Taiawatea – Rangatahi Cultural Leadership Fund

Taiawatea is a rangatahi fund designed to help shape young people who are strong, vibrant champions of Ngāi Tahu culture. The fund aims to empower rangatahi (youth) to connect and express their leadership in Ngāi Tahutanga (Ngāi Tahu cultural identity). Taiawatea can be used to start cultural projects aimed at strengthening Ngāi Tahutanga, and/or to support attendance at regional and national cultural events. The fund was named by the late Piri Sciascia, representing the incoming tide of new generations of Ngāi Tahu people. Successful applicants receive $500 for cultural projects and/or regional/national cultural events. Projects must align to one or more cultural pillars including whakapapa (kinship), tikanga (protocols and customs), te reo (language), mahi toi (creative expression), whenua (landscape and locality), mahinga kai (customary food gathering), ngā uara (values and beliefs), community engagement, and mana tangata (self-determination and self-confidence).