He Aha Tō Tātou Take | Why we exist
We're here to help young people overcome financial hardship
Kōrero Pūtea with Aunty Āwhi is a response to increasing financial pressures faced by young Māori parents who experience higher poverty rates, maternal distress linked to financial stress, and intergenerational financial disadvantage. Existing support is largely delivered in ways that do not reflect Māori values, culture or lived realities.
Recent research from the Retirement Commission highlights significant gaps in financial wellbeing for Māori.5 These challenges are particularly acute for young parents, who are navigating new financial responsibilities while often lacking the tools, support, and knowledge to build long-term, intergenerational financial wellbeing.
Ngā take / The issues
Does this section need a heading here as well?
1 in 6
Young people go without essentials, a reality many young parents face in today's economic climate.1
40%+
Of rangitahi Māori regularly worry about pūtea (money) as they navigate whānau responsibilities.2
1 in 3
Mātua taiohi (young adults) have no emergency pātaka (savings) to support their whānau.3
Almost 1 in 3
Young people say that money worries impact their wellbeing and ability to care for others.4
Systemic inequities
Māori consistently experience higher financial stress, creating a financial wellbeing gap in Aotearoa5
Sources
- Youth19 Survey, University of Auckland, 2019: Youth19 survey overview and publications
- Youth19 Rangatahi Māori Report, 2020: Youth19 Rangatahi reports (Oranga Tamariki research hub)
- Commission for Financial Capability / Te Ara Ahunga Ora research: Financial capability research and insights (Retirement Commission)
- Commission for Financial Capability research insights: Money Matters and financial wellbeing research reports
- Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission research: Financial capability research programme (Te Ara Ahunga Ora)
Tō mātou kōrero | Our Story
Strengthening financial confidence through kōrero and connection.
This unique programme has been developed by Ki Tua o Matariki – a Kaupapa Māori organisation that supports young parents to strengthen their whānau, with a particular focus on the first 2,000 days of parenting.
Designed by Māori, for Māori, the programme is centred on kōrero with Aunty Āwhi, a trusted elder who passes on knowledge and advice from lived experience, as elders have always done.
The outcome? Young people learn to manage pūtea through a te ao Māori lens and are encouraged to pass that knowledge on to their tamariki – contributing to a cycle of sustained, transformative impact for generations to come.
Ā mātou hua | Our impact
Kōrero that creates life-changing impact.
Aunty Āwhi enables not-for-profit and purpose-led organisations to:
Enhance your services
The delivery model can be tailored to suit a range of clients and communities, building financial capability across the sector.
Reach more clients
Enables financial mentors and not-for-profit organisations to reach more young people through a group-based, ready-to-deliver programme.
Improve whānau outcomes
Grounded in mātauranga Māori, the programme enables Kaupapa Māori social services to strengthen wellbeing outcomes for high need whānau.
Engage with young people
A practical, strengths-based programme that supports not-for-profit organisations to engage with young people in a meaningful way.
Strengthen your social return
An impact toolkit is included in the core package, enabling you to measure outcomes and grow your organisation’s impact in Aotearoa.
Grow generational knowledge
Participants learn to pass on their knowledge to tamariki and whānau, strengthening generational knowledge sharing and wellbeing.
Ngā Kaitautoki | Our supporters
Ngā mihi nui to our supporters – you are transforming young lives.
Our generous supporters make our kaupapa of strengthening financial wellbeing outcomes in Aotearoa possible
Mason Foundation
Mason Foundation
Mason Foundation
Mason Foundation