What Happens When Rangatahi Are Truly Seen?

Ngā Rangatahi Toa, creates space for young people to be seen for who they are and who they can become. A recent Matariki exhibition helped one young artist find his voice and sparked something powerful in his whānau and community.

For many of our rangatahi, being truly seen is one of the hardest things. Not just on a stage or in a gallery, but seen for who they are, where they come from, and who they could grow into.

That’s what made Ngā Rangatahi Toa’s Matariki exhibition, Hā – Breathe, so special. Held at Studio One Toi Tū through June and July, it wasn’t just a showcase of creativity. It was a celebration of identity, pride, and belonging. 

One of the young artists, Romi, had never shared his art publicly before. He’d never even seen himself as an artist. Growing up in a busy multigenerational home, there wasn’t much time or space to pause, let alone make art. But through a three-day wānanga, some encouraging workshops, mentoring from Māori creatives, and a bit of quiet support, Romi began to explore his story through visual art and spoken word.

His final piece was a powerful mix of materials, honouring his whānau and whakapapa. It had a quiet mana, just like him.

On opening night, his younger siblings stood in front of the artwork, wide-eyed. They touched the images of their big brother on the walls, turned to the 200-strong crowd and said, “This is our big brother!” In that moment, they didn’t just see art. They saw possibility. They saw someone from their own world holding space in a gallery in Ponsonby.

That’s the kind of moment that plants seeds. Seeds of leadership, confidence, and future pathways.

For all our rangatahi, creativity is deeply personal. But it’s also collective. Hā – Breathe brought together stories of whakapapa, strength, and resilience. It asked us all to slow down, take a breath, and reflect on where we come from. For many whānau, it was the first time they’d seen their young people not through a lens of challenge, but through one of strength, creativity, and brilliance.

Matariki mā Puanga is a deeply spiritual time. It marks the Māori New Year and invites us to reflect, reset, and gather in ways that everyday life often doesn’t allow. We eat together. We hold space. We share. We reconnect.

This is the power of your support. Donations from One Percent Collective make it possible to create these spaces. They help cover the time, the materials, the kai, and the creative mentorship that bring these moments to life.

Without that support, exhibitions like Hā – Breathe simply wouldn’t happen.

But with it, our rangatahi don’t just take part. They thrive. They lead. And they change the narrative of what’s possible.

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Words and images supplied by Ngā Rangatahi Toa