Toi Matarua ki te Ao

Tahiti

Toi Matarua sent a contingent of 12 researchers (including 7 rangatahi) to Tahiti in 2022 as part of our Rangatahi Data Sovereignty research project. We shared workshops with other indigenous children and were guided around sites of significance not only to their indigenous peoples but to whakapapa Māori.

USA

We had the opportunity to travel over to the USA in 2023 with Te Rōpū Rangahau Hauora a Eru Pomare, Otago University to begin a five year research partnership with John Hopkins University around how indigenous tamariki and rangatahi play. This was a time for whakawhanaungatanga, planning and laying foundations for the upcoming mahi. We are really excited to see where this journey takes us and the spaces it will create for our young people.

Hawaii

In October 2023 we are took a group of our rangatahi over to Hawai’i as part of our Youth Justice research project. This is part of an ongoing cultural exchange Toi Matarua have been engaged in since 2011. Rangatahi Māori have the opportunity to learn and share with other indigenous youth.

Mparntwe

Our Mokoboys had the privilege of attending the LEGO Family Spirit Conference ‘24 in Mparntwe (Alice Springs, Australia). They presented alongside three other Indigenous peoples, the First Nations British Columbians, Arrernte people, and Native Americans. Our rangatahi were the highlight of the trip. They connected instantly with all other Indigenous rangatahi and tamariki, teaching them our games, learning one another’s languages and spending time with the Pertame people out bush.