Toni Boynton

2023 Cohort

Toni is leading change by reclaiming spaces of Māori wāhine (women) leadership and participation in decision making that benefits people, environment, culture, economy, social factors and the long-term sustainability of our communities.

Toni (Tamakaimoana, Tūhoe, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Kahu, Ngāti Awa) is currently located in Whakatāne Aotearoa (New Zealand) and currently works in local government working with communities across the Whakatāne District supporting Māori tamariki to enage in early childhood education. Toni is leading change by reclaiming spaces of Māori wāhine (women) leadership and participation in the decision making with a Te Ao Māori lens that benefits not only Māori people but all people, environment, culture, economy, social factors and long term sustainability of our communities, country and the planet.

“My dream is to empower our whānau, hapū, marae – our Māori communities with civics education so they become the change makers and leaders of our future.”

Social change work

Toni wishes to develop and establish a community civics education programme that includes decolonisation and knowledge of the parliamentary and local government mechanisms and system, so that it empowers our people to make change through utilising the system and decolonising the space while providing innovating and change making for the benefit of their communities and the issues that they face.