Aotearoa’s Kaupapa Māori Creative Youth Development Organisation
We work alongside rangatahi based in Tāmaki Makaurau who are creative, capable and ready to lead. We create environments where identity is strengthened and leadership can grow. Through our creativity-driven experiences, rangatahi build skills and reconnect with learning in ways that work for them.
Creativity is our entry point. Wellbeing is our foundation.
Relationships drive longterm growth.
E ngā huia kaimanawa o te motu, tēnā tātou katoa. Ahakoa kāore te kūmara e kōrero mō tōna ake reka, kua poho kererū mātou mō tēnei hōnore kua ūhia ki runga i tō tātou mareikura a Huia O’Sullivan.
Here at Ngā Rangatahi Toa we are celebrating an extraordinary milestone.
A huge congratulations to our Executive Director Huia O’Sullivan (Te Ātiawa) who has been named as a Top 3 finalist for the Robert Walters New Zealand Leadership Awards 2026 (Māori Leadership category). Anyone who knows Huia know that this recognition has been years in the making. Her leadership is grounded in service, generosity, courage, and an unwavering belief in the potential of our rangatahi. She leads with purpose, always putting others before herself. She continually challenges us to imagine and build a better future for our communities.
We also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge those who have walked alongside Huia throughout her leadership journey. There are many of you, and Huia is incredibly humbled by your ongoing support. Thank you to everyone who has been part of Huia’s community of care, and for helping make moments like this possible. We especially want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our supporters at Next Gen, for believing in Huia long before this moment. Your investment in her leadership over many years has helped shape the incredible leader she is today. Leadership is never a solo journey. It is nurtured by people who see potential, back the vision, and walk alongside growth.
Congratulations Huia. Whatever happens next, this recognition is so richly deserved.
NGĀ MAHI A MĀTOU / THE WORK WE DO
We deliver a connected programme where each component works together to create clear pathways for
engagement, development and leadership.
Noho Wānanga – Immersive learning grounded in tikanga, identity and creative practice.
In-School Creative Programmes – Working with rangatahi in schools to support expression, confidence and leadership.
Manawa Ora – Our flagship theatre production, where rangatahi develop and perform their own stories.
Mentoring – Regular ongoing support across personal, educational and creative pathways.
Employment Pathways – Internships and work-readiness opportunities that support rangatahi into employment.
Wraparound Whānau Support – Holistically supporting rangatahi, their whānau and wider communities.
Taonga Pūoro Wānanga, images courtesy of Emily Raftery
Taonga Pūoro Wānanga, images courtesy of Emily Raftery
NGĀ HUA KA PUTA / THE FRUITS THAT EMERGE
We carefully measure outcomes to know that we’re making a difference, and this is what we see: a reduction in youth suicide and self-harm, a reduction in youth offending, and re-engagements with schools. Most of all, we see rangatahi developing the confidence to own their own space, develop resilience and create their own aspirations for their futures.
``I found a side of myself that I thought I would never see, I'm more comfortable in my skin and more in touch with myself. I gained so much more confidence and patience.`` - Returning rangatahi, 2025
PURCHASE OUR ICONIC MERCH
Over the years, our merch line has become an iconic staple in the wardrobes of Aotearoa’s creatives, movers and shakers. Purchasing our merch is a great way to support us, as all proceeds go straight back into our programmes. You can shop a wide range of our merch online here.
BECOME A SUPPORTER
Ngā Rangatahi Toa operates as a not-for-profit charitable trust. We would love your support to continue our transformative work. Each year we work with up to 40 rangatahi. The basic cost of supporting one of our rangatahi to build a brighter future through our transformative creative arts projects and wrap-around support is $5,300 a year. Any donation, big or small, will help us to reach more young people who need someone to believe in them, so that they can believe in themselves. You can donate at any time to help our rangatahi develop their dreams and realise their ambitions.
We’d also like to acknowledge the amazing team at One Percent Collective, who make it so easy for people in Aotearoa to support organisations like ours. Check out their work and donate at this link.
Our Supporters
Ngā mihi nunui
We are beyond grateful for the support we receive from the organisations that stand with us each year. These are some of our wider whānau who make our work possible:
