Ngāti Kahungunu

Dale is a qualified Youth Worker, who is a passionate advocate for rangatahi, dedicated to uplifting and empowering the next generation. She oversees our MokoBoys kaupapa and is the chairperson of the board.

She is committed to personal development and is currently expanding her expertise through the Kai Oranga programme at Te Wānanga o Awanuiārangi and has participated in various programs with Landmark Worldwide.

Ngāti Porou me Ngāti Kahungunu

Sally is a Kairangahau Matua (Research Lead) at EIT. Her background is in research, social work, mental health & addictions, education & business. Sally also holds an Indigenous Doctorate specialising in puku-roro (gut-brain) axis and connection to overall wellbeing.

Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Awa, Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Mahuta, Ngāti Manawa and Ngāti Pikiao

Te Rika is an experienced governor and trustee, and is currently a Kaitohutohu Matua a Rohe for Te Puni Kokiri’s Waikato-Waiariki region. His passion is in the service of his people, the protection of whenua, and in the revitalisation of Te Ao Māori. Te Rika is a legal researcher by training, and has completed an LLB (Māori & Indigenous Research), and holds a Masters of Law (Maori / Indigenous Law).

Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Pahauwera, Ngāti Porou, Te Aitanga a Mahaki

Cody is an artist specialising in toi Māori, Taa moko, and digital graphics. Operating as Haruru arts, this name comes from his maunga, “Maungaharuru” which is to reflect the whakatauki “Whāia te iti kahurangi, ki te tuohu koe me maunga teitei" which translates as "Seek out your heart's desire, though if you have to bow, let it be to a lofty mountain”. This is to ensure all mahi Cody produces, or is involved in to be held to a high standard using his maunga as a measuring standard to keep himself accountable.

Te Whakatōhea, Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Wairoa

Thu-Lena is the Senior Whānau Connect Lead for the Child Cancer Foundation, which oversees and provides support to the volunteer committees across Aoteroa whose mission is to connect whānau through shared experiences.

She is a Registered Nurse and has a background in health, education, business and mahi in the not-for-profit sector. Through personal experiences, Thu-Lena has become passionate about palliative care and bereavement support.

Tainui, Cook Islands

Catherine is a Community & Justice Liaison Nurse for the Mental Health, Addiction & Intellectual Disability Service (MHAIDS). She is passionate about helping reduce the negative stigma around mental health.

Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāi Tuhoe, Ngāti Tuwharetoa, Ngāti Raukawa

Marewa King is a qualified visual artist, teacher and performing artist, using these methods as a vehicle for indigenous storytelling and performance. She has toured nationally and internationally sharing messages of health, well being and education, and was awarded the Henry Rongomau Bennett Scholarship as a keynote speaker at the Healing our spirit worldwide conference, Edmonton Canada, as a cultural ambassador for Aotearoa. She has had extensive teaching experience in te reo Māori, kapa haka, whakaari (theatre/ acting), Māori art, hip-hop, cultural; latin dance, salsa, zumba, pasifika dance and Māori tourism. Her passion for Te Ao Māori, performing arts and indigenous models for health and well being drives her mahi within the wider community.

Rongomaiwahine

Soraya is one of Toi Matarua’s Cultural Advisors. Her background is in education, youth work and mental health & addictions. She currently works for Te Paepae Arahi as a Kaimahi Rangatahi and Ngā Kete Aronui Cultural Lead.

Ngati Kahungunu ki Mohaka, Ngāti Porou ki Ruatoria, Te Arawa Ngāti Whakaue.

Nanny Waka was born in Waipiro Bay in 1942 and made her way to Hawkes Bay in 1958. She married Stephen Rye and they settled in Maraenui Napier in the early 70s, the Rye homestead still stands in the heart of Maraenui where she raised her 5 tamariki, her many nieces and nephews and the wider community. The Rye whare was a local gathering place for youth before the establishment of Pukemokimoki Marae. Nanny Waka was an elite sportswoman and over the years she alongside Stephen coached many netball, rugby and softball teams for Maraenui, Colenso Pirates and Hawkes Bay. Nanny Waka has spent many years mentoring young wāhine and in more recent years has been a solid pou for Toi Matarua and the Rongo ā Puku and Moko Boys kaupapa.

Ngāti Pahauwera, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou

"Pihi ake te whakaaro pai. Plant good thoughts, reap what you sow."

Matua Tiwana proudly refers to himself as a product of the kohanga reo kaupapa. He is ex-army, Pukemokimoki Marae chairman, has been a member of the Kohanga Reo national trust, on Napier City Council's Maori consultative committee, support role Pou Ahurea with the Hawke's Bay District Health Board, and has held roles at the Maraenui Rugby Club. He has been recognised for all his mahi with a Queen’s Service Medal.

Matua has spent many years supporting tamariki and rangatahi in his mahi and has more recently become a pou for Toi Matarua kaupapa and mentor for the many rangatahi that come through its development programs. In October he travelled with the TM’s Te Pūtiki Wharanui leadership development rōpū over to Oahu, Hawai’i to support their cultural exchange.

Te Aupōuri, Te Rarawa, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Whātua, Waikato-Tainui, Ngāti Maniapoto

Paula is an associate of Toi Matarua. She is a vocationally registered public health medicine specialist (FNZCPHM) and Kaupapa Māori researcher. She also holds a senior research fellow role at Te Rōpū Rangahau Hauora a Eru Pōmare at the University of Otago in Te Whanganui-a-Tara.

Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Hineuru, Kai Tahu, NgātI Porou, Ngāti Maniapoto

Harlem-Cruz holds a Bachelor of Arts Te Reo Māori, Te Tohu Whakapakari o Te Kōhanga Reo and is a qualified youth worker. She has a background in Kōhanga Reo and youth development and currently runs her own business ‘Purotu’ which is a development pakihi specifically targeted to hine and wahine Māori.

Ngāti Porou

Wiari is an Advanced Scaffolder and owner of Kahu Scaffolding based in Hawkes Bay. Out of work, Wiari is active in suicide pre/post prevention and is a qualified youth worker. He is a business advisor and tāne ora mentor for Toi Matarua.

Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa

“Tuia ki te rangi, tuia ki te whenua, tuia ki te moana, e rongo te po, e rongo te Ao”. Rikki is a renowned Ngāti Kahungunu Maramataka expert. His main area of interest is Nga Kitenga o te Maramataka: Insights into the Maramamataka (Maori Moon Calendar) and its relation to suicide. He facilitates workshops and advises us on Maramataka and Astrology.

Ngāti Porou (Te Whānau a Tūwhakairiora, Te Aitanga a Mate.) Samoa

Te Aho is a visual storyteller, using the power of photography to revitalise and reclaim narratives for the communities that nurtured them. They are proud to represent and contribute to Māori, Pasifika, LGBTQIA+, and MVPFAFF+ groups in their mahi. Their aspiration is that indigenous rangatahi can step into their own truth and through the arts, can share their story confidently with the world.

He uri tēnei o te maunga tauheke, te maunga rongo, Taranaki titohea. Here atu ki Te au o Waikato, ko Weriweri te whare e tū mai rā. Peka atu ki Te Tairāwhiti, ki Te Araroa, tau ana. Ko Tira Te Ihi-o-te-rā Lee-Kirk tēnei e mihi ana.

He tauira tēnei nō te puna kōhanga reo, i hou mai i ngā Kura Kaupapa me ngā Kura Matatini o te motu nei.

Tira has worked across public, community and Iwi sectors primarily in research roles, Tira is currently the host of the Parakuihi show on Irirangi Kahungunu and covers the current events of Te Matau a Maui. Ko te reo te take - Kei te ora tonu tō tāua reo tuku iho i roto i ngā tētē kura o te āpōpō!

Tangata Tiriti

Lydia is a qualified Nutritionist with expertise in Public Health and health promotion. Her passion for soil health and nutrient-dense food led her to establish Pickled, a Bokashi business focused on sustainable food systems and soil regeneration. Lydia mentors our rangatahi, teaching soil health, sustainable living, and growing kai, empowering them to support our kaumātua and communities.

Tangata Tiriti

Hamish is the Director of Thomsen’s Chartered Accountants. He is Toi Matarua’s dedicated accountant and in his spare time he also mentors our rangatahi, sharing his expertise in farm work and fencing. He also supports their fundraising efforts by donating his farm’s pinecones to be sold.

Ngāti Porou

Taka is the Founder and Head Coach of Shamrock Boxing Maraenui Napier. After losing his son to suicide in 2022 he became passionate about helping the youth in our community to work through the barriers they face. He uses boxing as a vehicle to teach rangatahi about their mental and physical health while incorporating the values of respect, resilience, and the importance of positive relationships in and out of the gym.

Ngāti Kahungunu ki te Wairoa & Ngāti Porou

Young Māori Entrepreneur who is currently running her own business for products and services while also being a full-time mummy. Ruby our marketing advisor.

Ngāti Kahungunu & Tūhoe

Tipene was brought up in the kaupapa and has always been involved whether it was performing with 2FaceDrama or supporting at conferences and wānanga. Now he gives back to the kaupapa through voluntary work and supervising the MokoBoys.

Rongomaiwahine, Ngāi Tūhoe

Jahson was mentored and nurtured into a role at Toi Matarua. This has helped him to build the skills and confidence necessary to move onto mahi in construction. He now supports the kaupapa through volunteering and supervising the MokoBoys.

Tainui

Julia joined our kaupapa back in 2018, throughout her time she was one of our rangatahi leaders and participated in many shows, overseas haerenga and leadership development. She’s also an ex-MokoBoy and Maku Organics Team Lead. Her specialty area was rongoā Māori.

Ngāti Kahungunu

Materita, who joined in 2022 was one of our rangatahi leaders in the first round of our Te Pūtiki Wharanui leadership development programmes. She was also an OG Pakaru Pānui team member and an ex-MokoBoy.

Ngāti Kahungunu

Peter, who joined Toi Matarua in 2022 was one of our rangatahi leaders who had also been a part of overseas haerenga, shows and leadership development programmes. He was also an ex-MokoBoy Team Lead and Pakaru Panui researcher. He is now studying at Toi Whakaari.

Ngati Kahungunu

Ihaka was one of our original MokoBoy’s who joined in 2022. He was in the Where There’s Smoke show and was voted “Most Likely to Become Famous” after his stunning performance as Isaac. In which, he is now attending Toi Whakaari, expanding his skills in acting.

Ngāti Raukawa

Amaiah was one of our original Pakaru Pānui kaimahi and rangatahi leaders. She was a lead character in our ‘Where there’s smoke’ as well as a rangatahi ambassador on our overseas haerenga to Hawai’i & Alice Springs.

Ngāti Rakaipaaka & Te Arawa

Chaitanya, who joined in 2023 was a part of our shows: Undiscovered and Where There’s Smoke. She was also Music Queen and helped our rangatahi with singing and guitar playing.

Rongomaiwahine

Azure, who joined in 2023 was also one of our rangatahi leaders who participated in overseas haerenga and shows like: The Rebel in Me and Where There’s Smoke.

Ngāti Kahungunu

Nikora was one of our rangatahi leaders in the first round of our leadership programme Te Pūtiki Wharanui. He was one of our first MokoBoys and was a part of many shows and our overseas haerenga to Hawai’i. Nikora is now working in Kohanga Reo.

Ngāti Kahungunu & Ngāpuhi

Lee was one of our first MokoBoys. He was one of our rangatahi leaders and attended our overseas haerenga to Hawai’i. He is now pursuing study in outdoors education.

Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou & Maniapoto

Hiwaiterangi is our youngest intern, she goes to Te Kohanga Reo o Keita Puriri Raua Ko Hana Cotter and her favourite thing to do is hang out with the rangatahi at their wananga

Ngāti Kahungunu

Gracyn, 16yrs, is our MokoBoys Team Lead. He participates in K1 & Shamrock Boxing. His interests are boxing and helping out the kaumātua.

Ngāruahine & Ngāti Kahungunu

Aaliyah, 14yrs, is our MokoBoys 2IC & Māku Organics Team Lead. She attends Tamatea High School. Her interest is kapa haka.

Rongomaiwahine, Tūhoe, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou

Hikurangi, 16yrs, attends Tamatea High School. His interests are cooking and he aspires to become a chef.

Ngāpuhi

Cypris, 15yrs, attends Napier Boys High School. His interests are mātauranga Māori and helping people.

Coming soon…

Coming soon…

Ngāti Porou & Ngāti Kahungunu

Elaijahr, 14yrs, is an up-and-coming sportsman. His interests are Muay Thai/Kick Boxing.

Rongomaiwahine, Tūhoe, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou

Neon, 14yrs, attends Mangateretere School. He is interning, the next generation learning the ropes of MokoBoys. He enjoys sports and gaming.

Rongomaiwahine, Tūhoe, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Porou

Jarli, 12yrs, attends Marewa School. He is interning, the next generation learning the ropes of MokoBoys. He enjoys spending time with whānau and gaming.

Ngāti Rakaipaaka, Te Arawa

Tamia, 17 years old, is a dancer from Nuhaka. She is interested in all types of Performing Arts. She is currently training as our Pakaru Pānui Team Lead specialising in social media management and podcasting.

Ngāti Kahungunu

Preston, 15 years old, is a kickboxer from Maraenui, Napier. His interests include performing arts and kickboxing. He is currently training to become one of our interviewers.

Ngāti Kahungunu

Te Koha, 15yrs, attends Taradale High. She is one of our Pakaru Pānui members specialising in trends & interviewing.

Ngāti Kahungunu

Vellyn, 15yrs, attends Flaxmere College. He is a boxer at Shamrock Boxing and training to become one of our social media analysts and a familiar face in front of the camera.

Ngāti Kahungunu

Charlizza is a visionary leader passionate about Indigenous Advancement. She started this kaupapa at the age of 17, which now oversees a web of positive initiatives across Aotearoa designed for the betterment of rangatahi Māori and their whānau. She is currently in the final stages of her doctoral thesis on rangatahi Māori suicide.

Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahu ki Whangaroa

Sarah is a qualified youth worker. She joined this kaupapa as a participant when she was in high school and now she helps in running our leadership programs and rangatahi wānanga. She is currently doing her Masters in indigenous studies through Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.

Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga & Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa

Paul was born and raised in Hawke’s Bay. He began his education at Kura Kaupapa and later attended St John’s Catholic College. He is a youth worker and our MokoBoys Lead. Paul is very passionate about lifelong learning and committed to empowering rangatahi to reach their goals and deepen their understanding of their identity.