Leonie Matoe

My Role

My role at Rātā Foundation is Team Leader – Cultural and Community Relationships, and centres on nurturing strong, trust-based relationships with communities, iwi, hapū and partners, supporting ways of working that are mana-enhancing, relational and grounded in place.

About Leonie

Leonie (Ngā Rauru Kiitahi, Ngā Ruahine) brings extensive experience in community development and public service, most recently as Regional Manager – Community Operations (Hāpai Hapori) at the Department of Internal Affairs. Her professional background also spans Māori public health, Indigenous enterprise development alongside her iwi and social innovation.

Throughout her career, she has worked alongside community organisations to navigate funding and system settings, with a strong focus on equity, inclusion and supporting community-led solutions.

What motivates Leonie in her role is contributing to work that recognises community knowledge, shares power and supports long-term, locally driven change. “When funders listen deeply and walk alongside communities, we create the conditions for outcomes that are both meaningful and enduring.”

Grounded by her whanau, Leonie values learning together, is a student at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, loves collaboration whether it be on a sports field, in a co-design jam, cooking recipes seen on shows, or in the maara. She is happiest when engaged in the kind of activities and approaches that honour people, place and collective wellbeing.