Accomplishments

Highlights of 2024 so far

Toi Matarua launched our very own audiobook of pūrākau and oriori shared by our rangatahi titled ‘Kia Au, Ko Au’.This audiobook is available to the public via a variety of platforms including Spotify, YouTube and our Toi Matarua website for whānau to utilise as a tool for healing, combatting anxiety and overstimulation as well as easing into a good sleep.

From Thursday 1st till Sunday 4th August our rangatahi leaders facilitated a national rangatahi conference, the ‘Kia Au, Ko au’ Rangatahi Winter Camp. The camp drew on ancient knowledge and practices of Oriori, Pūrākau and Maramataka to educate rangatahi on indigenous ways of calming the mind, settling the spirit and relaxing into a deep sleep, combating anxiety and overstimulation while developing tools to be shared with their whānau, hapū, and iwi. With over 60 rangatahi in attendance, the leaders facilitated workshops on maramataka, digital storytelling, social enterprise, meditation and Dr Sally Rye’s Rongo ā Puku movements. The conference concluded with presentations of each groups short films, music videos, social enterprise business plans and contemporary haka.

Toi Matarua established our very own social enterprise, ‘Māku’. After Cyclone Gabrielle, we saw the need for our MokoBoys initiative in our community. The MokoBoys make and sell their own line of organic products including kawakawa balms to sustain their employment and keep the service free for kaumātua in need. Rather than waiting for funding or government assistance we showed up for our community and that is how we got the name ‘Māku’ (I will). To find out more about Māku or support our social enterprise please follow this link: https://www.maku-organics.com

On Tuesday 5th March, Toi Matarua hosted an open day at Pukemokimoki marae. The rangatahi welcomed on Native American manuhiri and local organisations, kaiako and whānau wanting to know more about what we do. There were workshops on different kaupapa TM run and support such as Tū Tārake, MokoBoys and the local Shamrock Boxing. Then we finished up with a big hākari (of course!).

It was awesome seeing our rangatahi take charge within their workshops, during the powhiri and throughout the whole day. We also give big thanks to our Board for holding it down in the kitchen.

Highlights of 2023

Expo

This year’s expo was held ‘premiere-styles’ at the Globe Theatrette in Ahuriri. Organisations, funders, kaumātua, whānau and friends showed up in force to two booked out screening sessions of the ‘MokoBoys’ short film and photography portfolio. These were created and shot by our rangatahi themselves.

Hawai’i Haerenga

As part of their research exposure and development, Te Pūtiki Wharanui travelled to Hawai’i representing Toi Matarua in promoting our various Hauora kaupapa as an example of positive rangatahi engagement. They performed and engaged in a cultural exchange at 8 schools. They also had the privilege of travelling to Maui to perform at a local church and give koha to those affected by the Maui wildfires.

Matariki Sunrise Rave

Following the devastation of Cyclone Gabrielle to our rohe, ‘Kia Au, Ko Au’ was an opportunity for the rangatahi of our hapori to come together and celebrate our beautiful and powerful Taiao. The 'sunrise rave’ put a fun and contemporary rangatahi-flavour on what it means to commemorate the Māori new year. Over 80 rangatahi gathered at the Napier Soundshell. The event started with a tour of the stars on the beach by Ricci and then each star of the Matariki cluster was celebrated with workshops and activities facilitated by the young Toi Matarua leaders. Finally, the event was concluded was a dance party of course!

Cyclone Relief

Cyclone Gabrielle significantly impacted the Hawkes Bay. Our rangatahi created a Kawakawa Balm workshop which helped to raise urgent cash for whānau in need. They also volunteered at local marae and have been running an in school program for displaced a primary school. To read more about these awesome kaupapa, please click the link below.

Jah’s Story

Toi Matarua nurtured Jahson (21yrs) into 6 months of full-time mahi and work experience as the MokoBoys project lead. During this time he underwent extensive personal and professional development building lifelong skills and confidence necessary for the workplace. Toi Matarua then supported him to branch out and secure a full-time job & apprenticeship in his career of choice. We are proud of Jah and so happy to see him thriving!

“Toi Matarua helped me to see my potential”

— Jahson Greening


Highlights of 2022

  • We successfully ran over 15 rangatahi hauora wānanga in communities across Aotearoa including:

    • Hawkes Bay: Maraenui, Tangoio, Mohaka, Mahia and Wairoa

    • Bay of Plenty: Kawerau

    • Wellington: Stokes Valley

  • Our rangatahi produced ‘The Rebel in Me’, a 25 cast play on rangatahi suicide prevention that was performed in Napier, Mahia and Wairoa

  • Toi Matarua sent a contingent of 12 researchers (including 7 rangatahi) to Tahiti as part of our Rangatahi Data Sovereignty research project

  • We produced our first eBook! ‘Kia Whakatōmuri Te Haere Whakamua – A Collection of Indigenous Told By Indigenous Youth of Aotearoa’

  • Our rangatahi assisted over 100 kaumātua with tech awhi and lawn/garden maintenance

“I can see the change in him, he is more comfortable in his own skin, more prouder to be himself.”

— Aunty of a ‘Te Putiki Wharanui Rōpū’ member

“People have tried to bring our rangatahi back to the marae we’ve been trying to do it for years, nothing worked. Whatever is being done within this rangatahi rōpū is working and we need to continue doing it”

— Terrance Maru, Senior Qualified social worker