What happens when you give talented young people a platform, professional mentorship and a safe space grounded in te ao Māori? They thrive.
That is the foundation of the Hawaikī TŪ Academy (Tūmata Kōkiri), a year-long rangatahi development programme run by Hawaiki TŪ Arts Foundation that uses Māori performing arts as a vehicle for wellbeing, identity and leadership. Operating out of Te Puna Creative Hub in Henderson, the pilot academy provides 25 rangatahi, many of them from secondary schools and kura kaupapa Māori across The West, with immersive training in Haka Theatre, wānanga, and mentorship from experienced practitioners.
The initiative was born out of Autaia, an annual Māori stage challenge created by Hawaiki TŪ in partnership with Auckland Live. Now engaging around 1,500 rangatahi each year, Autaia revealed an overwhelming demand. Young people had massive creative potential and passion, but limited structured pathways grounded in te ao Māori to transition into higher education, sustainable creative careers, or leadership roles.
The Trusts is proud to support Hawaiki TŪ Arts Foundation through the Your West Support Fund. Funding goes directly towards engaging top-tier practitioners, facilitating intensive wānanga, and providing career mentorship. Through a key partnership with Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, students can work towards a national qualification, while a partnership with mana whenua Te Kawerau ā Maki ensures local kōrero tuku iho is woven into their creative work.
Founder and Kaiarataki Kura Te Ua says the programme is about far more than performance. “It equips rangatahi with the self-belief, cultural capability, and practical skills needed to lead, whether returning to their schools as kapa haka mentors or stepping onto the professional stage.”
The Trusts CEO Allan Pollard says backing initiatives like Hawaiki TŪ strengthens the wider community. “Hawaiki TŪ is creating real, transformative pathways. By combining cultural identity with creative discipline and national qualifications, they are empowering these young leaders to take charge of their futures. We are proud to support a kaupapa that builds confidence and enriches our creative sector.”
As a community-owned business, the surplus from our venues and stores comes back to The West. Seeing it turn into wānanga, mentorship and opportunity for 25 young people in Henderson is a pretty good result.
Learn more about Hawaiki TŪ Arts Foundation at hawaikitu.com or follow them on Facebook.
If you or your organisation could use support from The Trusts, find out how to apply at thetrusts.co.nz/our-funds.
