Who we are
Toi Matarua is the first of its kind Indigenous, youth-led research and arts organisation based on the East Coast of Aotearoa. Founded in 2012 by our Director when she was just 17 years old, Toi Matarua empowers rangatahi (young people) and their whānau (families) through creative expression, cultural leadership, and kaupapa Māori education. Our work spans theatre, digital storytelling, youth-led community service and Indigenous research — tackling complex issues like mental health, incarceration, and intergenerational wellbeing. We are redefining leadership by placing Indigenous youth at the forefront of transformation, healing, and global change.
Our Work with SPIRIT
Toi Matarua is revitalising Indigenous approaches to play, learning, and wellbeing through Kāinga Ako — a Māori-led family learning programme grounded in ancestral knowledge systems and creative exploration.
Kāinga Ako creates safe, dynamic learning spaces (called whare puni, or pop-up learning homes) where families can connect across generations through storytelling, traditional games, mindfulness, and hands-on learning. The programme is structured around four interwoven modules:
Te Whare Aio – Exploring Māori creation stories (pūrākau), natural cycles (maramataka), connection to the environment (te taiao), plant medicine, and traditional games
Te Whare Tangata – Focusing on women’s health and identity, traditional birthing practices, gut-brain connection, and nurturing family wellbeing
Te Whare o te Whaiao – Empowering youth leadership through research, digital storytelling, entrepreneurship, and cultural expression
Te Whare Moemoea – Supporting families to plan for their futures through sustainability, succession, and collective leadership
With support from SPIRIT, we are reclaiming the power of tākaro (play) as a form of healing, cultural expression, and joy — especially in communities where play has been limited or lost. Through Kāinga Ako, we are re-Indigenising play and building strong foundations for lifelong wellbeing.
What SPIRIT means to us
SPIRIT has been a doorway of possibility for our community in Maraenui — a place often known for the wrong reasons, but rich in potential, culture, and heart. Through SPIRIT, our rangatahi (young people) are not only reconnecting with play and cultural identity, but they’re also connecting to a global movement.
It’s expanded their sense of what’s possible — from a small corner of Aotearoa to the world stage. We’ve seen ripple effects reach deep into whānau, with parents and siblings joining the learning journey, healing together, and dreaming bigger.
"For us, SPIRIT isn’t just about play — it’s about restoring pride, shifting narratives, and unlocking futures that once felt out of reach."— Charlizza Matehe, Founder and Director, Toi Matarua