Welcome to the Matua Karanga Foundation

The Matua Karanga O Te Huihuinga Putanoa Foundation was originally established as a non-political, inclusive, organisation in 1996 to represent the rights and aspirations of the Maori peoples during the colonisation of Aotearoa.

Since its establishment the Foundation has provided a voice for the Maori on the world stage and following adoption of the United Nations "Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples" in 2007 it has sought the betterment of all First Nations people.

The purpose of the UN declaration was to establish the individual and collective rights of indigenous peoples, specifically their rights to culture, identity, language, employment, health and education. Its objective was to emphasise "the rights of indigenous peoples to maintain and strengthen their own institutions, cultures and traditions, and to pursue their development in keeping with their own needs and aspirations".

The Foundation has a principal role to play in delivering these objectives and as part of its basic ethos is committed to environmental and economic sustainability, mutual prosperity and dignity for all. Beyond its core role the Foundation actively provides and promotes the provision of timely and effective humanitarian assistance and disaster relief wherever they are required.