MATARIKI KI WAIKATO
The team behind the Matariki ki Waikato Festival
Te Aupouri, Ngāti Maniapoto- Ngāti Huiao, Ngāti Koroki, Ngāti Kinohaku
“He uri ahau, nō te Taitokerau, nō Mitimiti taku pāpā. I tipu ake ahau i waenganui i ngā taniwha o te awa o Waikato ki te Oko Horoi a Tāwhiao. Ko Te Kauae taku marae ki te moenga Pukeroa nō roto mai o te nehenehenui.”
Waimihi has over 30 years experience in ngā toi Māori, theatre, film and screen production and has been holding Matariki events around Aotearoa since the 90’s. She has been embedding Mātauranga Māori throughout Wintec |Te Pūkenga for the past 5 years where hautapu and Matariki celebrations have been a feature for over 20 years.
Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi, Waikato-Tainui
Born in Whanganui, the youngest of 4 children, Tania grew up in Waikato attending schools her whole life in Hamilton.
Tania is a past member of the Matariki ki Waikato working group and hosts two Matariki events within the Matariki ki Waikato Festival.
Being a mother to 5 children, Tania is excellent at multitasking, working on several projects at the same time and has 20+ years of event management experience.
Graduating with a Bachelor of Law degree in 2010, Tania has gained excellent communication and administrative skills over the years and loves to share her knowledge with anyone that’s eager to learn.
Tania currently manages several businesses offering a variety of expert support in operations, financials, developing and implementing business processes and systems, website management and problem solving.
Tania enjoys socialising with friends, meeting a wide range of people, providing clients with amazing experiences and comes from a sport loving whaanau.
Born and raised amidst the lush landscapes of Hamilton, New Zealand, Mike Walen grew a deep appreciation for the art of photography after emerging from a 12 year Graphic Design career.
KeyImagery, his photography business nestled in the stunning Waikato region of New Zealand, allows Mike to capture the essence of people, places, and events through his lens.
At KeyImagery, Mike offers a range of services including photography, videography, and photo booth experiences. From corporate conferences to school balls, from graduation ceremonies to milestone celebrations, Mike and his team specialise in immortalising the joy and excitement of every occasion.
Beyond the technical aspects of his craft, what truly sets Mike apart is his genuine connection with his clients. Whether it’s the beaming smile of a graduate or the happiness of whānau gathered at a citizenship ceremony, Mike’s ability to capture the essence of human emotion is unparalleled. For him, photography is not just about clicking pictures; it’s about creating timeless memories that resonate with warmth and authenticity.
With his partner, Nicki Hamilton, by his side for the past 18 years, and delightful 11 year old twin girls Paige & Taylor, Mike has built KeyImagery into a trusted name in the photography industry. From Hamilton to Auckland, Tauranga to Rotorua, and beyond, Mike has captured memories for countless individuals and organisations.
Check out Mike’s mahi HERE
TE OHU WHAKAITA CHARITABLE TRUST
The governing group for the Matariki ki Waikato Festival
Anna was born and raised in the Waikato in the rohe of Ngāti Hauā of Irish, Scottish and English descent. As a Community Organiser at Go Eco and Poverty Action Waikato, Anna is also a Trust Waikato and Living Wage Aotearoa Board member. Anna believes that strong cultural identity and understandings of whakapapa are vital to a thriving Waikato community. Anna is honoured to support the kaupapa of Te Ohu Whakaita.
Raukawa, Ngaa Puhi, Ngaati Kuri. Myra was born and raised in Waikato and is passionate about the wellbeing and Hauora of our Taiao, Whaanau and Communities. Hauora and wellbeing are nurtured when a society and community reflects your culture and whaanau aspirations. She sees volunteering with Te Ohu Whakaita as a privilege and opportunity to support Kaupapa Maaori events in the Waikato region. Myra is a member of Hei Ahuru Mowai- Maori Cancer Leadership for Aotearoa, Co-chair for the Clinical Equity Leadership at Waikato District Health Board and a member of The Maori Health Committee for The Royal Australasian College of Physicians.
Raukawa ki Wharepūhunga, Ngāti Airihi, Ngāti Pākehā. Cassandra was raised in Tāmaki and lived in Wellington for the last eight years, but has returned to Kirikiriroa with her 10-year-old son to be nearer to whānau and hapū.
Cassandra has a background as an art academic and has published many essays, stories and poems about art, culture and te taiao. She was a writer in residence at Zealandia eco-sanctuary in 2019 and at Anawhata (Hikurangi/Waitākere Regional Park) in 2022. She is a founding member of Taraheke Press
Cassandra has just started a new Pouako / Museum Educator role at Te Whare Taonga o Waikato. She is honoured to join Te Ohu Whakaita and is excited to help support and uplift Māori arts and literature in the Waikato.
Villages: Faleasi’u, Nu’usuatia – Samoa, Fakaaofo – Tokelau. Landy is a proud daughter of the Pacific, born in Faleasi’u, Samoa and raised in Fairfield, Kirikiriroa- Hamilton.
She is the Co-Founder and Director of Talents of the Pacific Academy – TOPA. Waikato’s leading Provider of Pasifika Performing Arts and Cultural Learnings.
Based in Hamilton, a family-built dream – Landy and her team developed a platform for Pacific Cultural Programmes to engage students from Early Childcare, Primary, Intermediate, High School and Adult Learners.
TOPA shares the essence of Pasifika Culture, making a commitment to provide a high-level Cultural experience.
In June 2022 Landy was voted in as the Chairperson for the Waikato Samoan Association Charitable Trust. Under her leadership thus far, the Trust has established the inaugural Waikato Samoan Interfaith Church Service, they set up the first Mafutaga Fa’afeiloa’i- a gathering for Waikato’s Samoan Church Ministers and Leaders with the Board to discuss and develop annual plans for the Samoan Community.
The Board has made a commitment to monthly visits to the many Samoan community groups (Church groups), engage with their congregation and seek what each congregation needs from the Board. They have also helped individual families find homes, assistance for care packages and support with education and employment.
Landy is blessed with an 8-year-old daughter and she celebrates 19 years with her Husband in December.
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