Tēnā koutou Team Air New Zealand,
Tū Mātau Ora is a Māori-owned and operated organisation based in Te Upoko o te Ika a Māui. Our vision is mātauranga Māori informing positive outcomes for people, communities and our environments.To achieve this, we are on a mission to revitalise Taonga Tākaro, traditional Māori games and activities.
Revitalisation is not simply about preserving traditions. It is about keeping them alive through teaching, sharing and, most importantly, people playing them.
Across Aotearoa New Zealand, we work with all ages and abilities, kura, schools, marae, clubs, councils, communities and whānau. In 2025–26, we shared with 52 schools, delivered more than 300 sessions and reaching over 15,000 participants. But the numbers are jsut part of it. Our partnership with the Halberg Foundation and the Halberg Games, proves that taonga tākaro provides tangata whaikaha disabled whānau, opportunities to enjoy truly inclusive participation.
An invitation to Paris
Our mahi has received international recognition with an invitation to represent Aotearoa New Zealand as Guest of Honour at the International Spinning Top Festival in Paris, 27–31 January 2027.
More than demonstrating traditional games, we want to show that Māori knowledge is living, relevant and evolving, and that play can connect people across cultures.
This is an exciting opportunity to showcase Aotearoa New Zealand using Pōtaka, traditional Māori spinning tops, alongside spinning-top traditions from around the world, sharing the mātauranga, whakapapa and stories held within this taonga.
Why Air New Zealand?
Air New Zealand connects Aotearoa with the world. Tū Mātau Ora connects people with Aotearoa through Taonga Tākaro.
We see a natural alignment with Air New Zealand’s commitment to people, culture, inclusion, and connecting Aotearoa internationally.
We are seeking support with international travel and logistics for our delegation to maximise the impact of this invitation.
Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini.
My strength is not as an individual, but as a collective.
Air New Zealand’s support would help us represent Aotearoa with pride while building international relationships and creating lasting opportunities for Taonga Tākaro at home and abroad.
We would be more than happy to acknowledge Air New Zealand’s support and explore ways to showcase your support.
We also see potential for a very exciting longer-term partnership, with opportunities to explore:
- Corporate gifting and storytelling: Pōtaka, crafted from recycled native timber, as a distinctive Aotearoa gift and story to share with international partners.
- People and culture: Taonga Tākaro experiences supporting team connection, leadership development and cultural capability.
- Customer engagement: Simple games creating opportunities for connection and cultural exchange.
- Shared storytelling: Featuring Pōtaka and Taonga Tākaro through Air New Zealand channels, including Kia Ora.
- Inclusion: Building on our experience creating accessible play opportunities with tangata whaikaha.
We welcome the opportunity to meet with your team and kōrero about how we can work together to take Pōtaka, Taonga Tākaro and a piece of Aotearoa to the world.
Ngā mihi nui,
Pita Noanoa and Vanessa (Ness) Mill
Co-Founders and Kaihautū
Tū Mātau Ora
