“Māwai te kauwae o Kawa e tō ki uta ki tawhiti!” Nā Kawatapuarangi

Jade Kameta embodies the whakataukī through his passion for mātauranga Māori and kōrero tuku iho. He is driven, dedicated, and committed to uplifting the wisdom of his tūpuna and ensuring their legacy impacts future generations.

With over 15 years of experience in health, education, and social sectors, Jade is a leading advocate for embedding mātauranga Māori and maramataka into modern systems to address health inequities and nurture community wellbeing. As the Rautaki Māori at Healthy Families East Cape, Jade leads systems change by weaving Mātauranga Māori, kōrero tuku iho knowledge into community design, policy, urban development, and wellbeing strategies. His leadership has been pivotal in initiatives like Ngā Pātaka Kōrero o Te Arawa, where maramataka is revitalised as a tool to reconnect whānau with ancestral timekeeping, planning, and healing.

Jade is also the director of Kakahi Whakairo Ltd, a consultancy dedicated to supporting hapori, services, kura, and workplaces to embed maramataka and mātauranga Māori in ways that are locally grounded and transformative.

He completed his Master of Māori and Indigenous Leadership at the University of Canterbury  in 2023, research focused on "how maramataka impacts health and wellbeing, and to evidence mātauranga Māōri as a preventative health solution". His mahi culminated in the online symposium Te Hekenga-ā-Rongo, which showcased maramataka in action across the motu.

Jade is currently pursuing a PhD at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) exploring “How do Indigenous peoples read the stars to improve health, wellness, and respond to environmental challenges?” His research is grounded in Tātai Arorangi and engages with the celestial knowledge systems of other Indigenous cultures as well as Western science.

Internationally, Jade has represented Aotearoa as a cultural ambassador, sharing Māori knowledge and practices through kapa haka and Indigenous exchanges. He has also contributed as an Indigenous astronomer, offering Māori perspectives on the cosmos through kaupapa such as Tipis and Telescopes. In 2024, he was part of the NASA Europa Clipper Mission Launch delegation to Florida, a kaupapa connecting Indigenous youth and knowledge keepers from across the globe.

Jade’s work with Healthy Families East Cape is rooted in a vision of whānau flourishing,wellbeing is restored through Kaupapa Māori Leadership and localised solutions. He plays a critical role in reshaping the systems where Māori live, learn, work, and play — from kai resilience to urban design, smoke-free strategies, and the revival of cultural frameworks for wellbeing.

Links:

Healthy Families East Cape Article: NASA Europa Clipper Mission Launch Event for Indigenous Youth in Florida, USA next month

Healthy Families East Cape Article: Retracing the Footsteps of Tahu Pōtiki 11 July 2023

E AHA ANA EP 14 | Maramataka With Jade Kameta - Phases of the moon YouTube video

Matariki Wananga Ep01 - Jade Kameta YouTube video

Te Kawhe me te Whawhe ki te taha a Jade Kameta #Maramataka Healthy Families Rotorua Te Arawa Whānau Ora Collective. Facebook video

Jade Kameta – Ngāti Pikiao – Facebook audio