Huata Arahanga

My Role

I have the privilege of working alongside Māori communities to build genuine relationships founded on trust, respect and shared aspirations. By listening first and understanding what matters most, I help connect people, ideas and opportunities that support stronger, more vibrant communities. Every day is an opportunity to learn, strengthen partnerships, and help weave te ao Māori into the work of Rātā Foundation.

About Huata

Huata (Hoots) Arahanga (Taranaki Iwi, Waikato) is the Māori Engagement Advisor at Rātā Foundation, where he works alongside iwi, hapū, marae and whānau to strengthen relationships and support aspirations that create lasting benefit for communities across the Foundation's funding regions.

For Huata, relationships have always been at the heart of his mahi. He believes the best outcomes begin with listening – taking the time to genuinely understand people's stories, aspirations and challenges before looking for solutions. That philosophy resonates strongly with the Rātā approach and is what drew him to the Foundation.

Before joining Rātā, Huata held leadership and community engagement roles across Aotearoa, including as Commissioning Manager with Te Pūtahitanga, where he developed strong partnerships with whānau and communities throughout Te Waipounamu. More recently, his work with Bioprotection Aotearoa deepened his appreciation for our taiao, while his time with Waitaha School reinforced the power of local identity, cultural narratives and authentic relationships in creating places where people can flourish.

Huata is passionate about helping connect people, ideas and opportunities. Whether working with a marae committee, supporting a funding applicant, facilitating a workshop or contributing to strategic conversations, he enjoys bringing people together and recognising the potential that already exists within communities.

Outside of Rātā, Huata is a husband, father and proud grandfather. He is also an independent wedding celebrant, a role that allows him to share in some of life's most meaningful moments and celebrate the stories of others. He is a national speech judge, enjoys developing cultural narratives and is equally at home on a marae as he is around a boardroom table.

When people leave a conversation with Huata, he hopes they leave feeling heard. That they know someone has genuinely listened, understood their whakaaro, and respected both their journey and their aspirations.