A proud wahine from Waikato with roots in Ngāti Hauā and Ngāti Raukawa, Taylah-Jade was born and raised in Tāmaki Makaurau, the concrete jungle. Growing up, she was lucky enough to be immersed in a world of taonga tākaro like Kī o Rahi and waka ama, not to mention the endless adventures with the cuzzies, climbing trees, running wild up the maunga, and making the best of whatever they could find! These days, you’ll catch Taylah throwing weight around at CrossFit, winging it on the touch field, or just vibing with a good feed and even better company.

Her time at Ngā Puna o Waiorea and Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Hoani Waititi helped her stay grounded in her mana Māori and fueling her passion for being an unapologetic Māori. As Kaitautoko Pūkōrero for Mātaiao ki Tāmaki, whether it’s through Mātaiao or across the Toi Tangata community, she is here to inspire our young ones to move, explore, and grow because when you’re having fun, you’re always learning and strengthening your whare tapa whā!

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