Matewa Kiritapu is the youngest daughter of Oscar-winning New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi and award-winning Māori film producer Chelsea Winstanley. Born in August 2015, Matewa belongs to a creative family deeply connected to filmmaking, storytelling, comedy, and Indigenous culture. She gained wider public attention after making a small appearance in her father’s 2022 Marvel movie Thor: Love and Thunder, but she remains a child whose education and everyday life deserve protection.
Quick Bio of Matewa Kiritapu
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Matewa Kiritapu |
| Also credited as | Matewa Kiritapu Waititi |
| Birth date | Reportedly August 11, 2015 |
| Age | 11 as of September 2026 |
| Birthplace | New Zealand |
| Nationality | New Zealander |
| Heritage | Māori, Jewish and European family heritage |
| Famous for | Being Taika Waititi and Chelsea Winstanley’s daughter |
| Father | Taika Waititi |
| Mother | Chelsea Winstanley |
| Older sister | Te Kāinga o te Hinekāhu |
| Older maternal half-brother | Maia |
| Stepmother | Rita Ora |
| Screen credit | Asgardian Kid in Thor: Love and Thunder |
| Profession | Child; no established career |
| School | Private and not appropriate to disclose |
Matewa is still a minor. Claims about her school, home address, private social-media accounts, friendships, and future career should not be published without her family’s permission.
Who Is Matewa Kiritapu?
Matewa Kiritapu is Taika Waititi’s younger daughter with his former wife, Chelsea Winstanley.
Taika is an actor, director, screenwriter, comedian, and producer who moved from independent New Zealand films to some of Hollywood’s biggest productions. Chelsea is a respected producer and filmmaker known for supporting Indigenous stories, Māori artists, and women working in film.
Matewa’s parents separated in 2018 but have continued to share responsibility for their two daughters.
She has an older sister named Te Kāinga o te Hinekāhu, who is often called Te Hinekāhu in media reports.
Although Matewa has attended public events and briefly appeared in a Marvel movie, she should not yet be described as a professional actress. A single childhood role does not establish a permanent career.
Her life today appears to include family, travel, creativity, and time spent in both ordinary and film-related environments.
When Was Matewa Kiritapu Born?
Matewa was reportedly born on August 11, 2015.
Chelsea Winstanley marked her sixth birthday in an August 2021 post, describing her as a beautiful and powerful soul.
Published profiles also identify August 11, 2015, as her birth date.
This makes Matewa 11 years old as of September 2026.
Because she is still a child, her age may be discussed through information her family has already made public. However, private details connected to her daily schedule, school, or precise location should remain protected.
What Does the Name Matewa Kiritapu Mean?
Matewa’s name reflects her family’s Māori heritage.
Exact translations of Māori names can depend on family history, pronunciation, context, and the reason the name was chosen. It is therefore risky to provide a simple online translation without a direct explanation from her parents.
The name Kiritapu also has special family meaning.
Chelsea Winstanley’s maternal grandmother was named Kiritapu “Kitty” Wilson. Chelsea has Māori ancestry through Ngāti Ranginui and Ngāi Te Rangi.
This suggests that Matewa’s middle name honors an important woman in her mother’s family.
Names can carry memory, identity, whakapapa—or genealogy—and a connection between generations. For Māori families, a name may recognize ancestors, places, events, hopes, or spiritual ideas.
Rather than treating Matewa’s name as an unusual celebrity choice, it should be understood as part of a living cultural and family tradition.
Who Is Matewa’s Father, Taika Waititi?
Taika Waititi was born Taika David Cohen in Wellington, New Zealand, on August 16, 1975.
He has Māori ancestry through his father, who was connected to Te Whānau-ā-Apanui. His mother’s family brought Jewish and European heritage into his background.
Taika grew up between Wellington’s Aro Valley and the small community of Raukokore in the Bay of Plenty.
He began his career in comedy, theater, visual art, and independent film. His early short films earned international attention, including an Academy Award nomination for Two Cars, One Night.
Taika later directed films including:
- Eagle vs Shark
- Boy
- What We Do in the Shadows
- Hunt for the Wilderpeople
- Thor: Ragnarok
- Jojo Rabbit
- Thor: Love and Thunder
- Next Goal Wins
He won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for Jojo Rabbit.
Taika is known for combining humor with emotional stories. Children, outsiders, family relationships, and identity frequently appear in his work.
Who Is Matewa’s Mother, Chelsea Winstanley?
Chelsea Winstanley is a New Zealand film producer and director born in Tauranga on January 30, 1976.
Her ancestry connects her to Ngāti Ranginui and Ngāi Te Rangi.
Chelsea has built a career supporting stories about Indigenous people, Māori history, women, family, and identity. Her production credits include projects such as:
- What We Do in the Shadows
- Jojo Rabbit
- Merata: How Mum Decolonised the Screen
- Waru
- Night Shift
- Meathead
Chelsea has also worked on Māori-language versions of major animated movies. Her wider goal has included strengthening opportunities for Māori filmmakers and ensuring that Indigenous women can tell their own stories.
In 2022, she was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the screen industry and Māori.
Matewa therefore receives creative influence from both parents—not only her famous father.
Taika Waititi and Chelsea Winstanley’s Relationship
Taika and Chelsea had known each other through New Zealand’s film community.
They reportedly became closer while working around Taika’s 2010 film Boy. The couple married in 2011 and had two daughters.
Their first daughter, Te Hinekāhu, was born in 2012. Matewa followed in 2015.
Taika and Chelsea separated in 2018. Their separation became publicly known later, in 2020.
The reasons behind the end of their marriage belong primarily to them. Online rumors and accusations should not be turned into facts without reliable evidence.
Most importantly, their daughters should never be blamed for adult relationship difficulties.
Published profiles report that Taika and Chelsea continue to co-parent Matewa and her sister.
Matewa’s Older Sister, Te Hinekāhu
Matewa’s older sister is Te Kāinga o te Hinekāhu, often shortened publicly to Te Hinekāhu.
She was born in May 2012 and is approximately three years older than Matewa.
The sisters have appeared together in family photographs, on trips, and at movie premieres. They also appeared in their father’s humorous travel videos.
The sisters share an unusual childhood. Their father directs international movies, while their mother works on important film and cultural projects in New Zealand.
Yet photographs show them behaving like ordinary siblings—laughing, making jokes, traveling, and spending time with their parents.
Their private disagreements, school experiences, and friendships are not public information and should remain that way.
Matewa’s Older Half-Brother
Chelsea Winstanley also has an older son named Maia, whom she welcomed when she was young.
This makes Maia Matewa’s maternal half-brother.
Unlike Matewa’s occasional public appearances with Taika, Maia generally stays outside celebrity coverage. Detailed information about his private life is limited.
A family may contain siblings of different ages and from different parental relationships while remaining connected through the same mother.
There is no need to guess about the private relationship between Matewa and Maia. The established fact is simply that Chelsea is the mother of three children.
Matewa Kiritapu in Thor: Love and Thunder
Matewa received a small screen credit in Thor: Love and Thunder, released in 2022.
IMDb credits her as an “Asgardian Kid.”
The movie was directed and co-written by her father. It starred Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, Christian Bale as Gorr, Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie, and Taika as the voice of Korg.
The story includes a group of children who are taken from New Asgard. These young characters later become involved in a major action sequence.
Matewa’s role was small. She did not lead the movie or become a central Marvel superhero.
Still, appearing in a large Marvel production gave her a memorable childhood experience and a genuine film credit.
Did Matewa Become a Professional Actress?
Matewa should not yet be described as a professional actress with an established career.
She was a child when she appeared in Thor: Love and Thunder. Children sometimes receive small parts in films directed by their parents, especially when a scene needs a group of young performers.
Matewa may decide to act again, but she may also become a filmmaker, artist, writer, athlete, teacher, scientist, or choose a completely unrelated path.
Her parents’ careers do not determine her future.
Websites that call her a “Hollywood star” or make financial predictions about her are moving far beyond the available evidence.
For now, the fairest description is that she is Taika and Chelsea’s young daughter who made a small credited film appearance.
Matewa at the Thor: Love and Thunder Premiere
Matewa and Te Hinekāhu joined Taika at the Sydney premiere of Thor: Love and Thunder on June 27, 2022.
Associated Press photographs showed Taika posing with both daughters on the red carpet.
The event gave the children a chance to celebrate a film their father had directed and in which Matewa had appeared.
Red-carpet events can feel exciting, with cameras, costumes, celebrities, and large crowds. However, one public appearance does not mean Matewa lives every day as a Hollywood celebrity.
After the premiere, she returned to the family life and education appropriate for a child her age.
The Dads on Tour Videos
In 2022, Taika created a lighthearted travel-video series with his daughters using the label “Dads on Tour.”
The videos showed the three visiting places in New Zealand, offering funny observations, and enjoying time together.
The clips gave fans a limited look at Taika as a father rather than a movie director.
His daughters appeared comfortable teasing him and sharing their opinions. The humor felt informal and family-centered.
Still, these public videos represent moments Taika chose to share. They do not give strangers permission to search for private recordings or accounts belonging to the children.
Matewa’s Māori Heritage
Matewa’s identity includes Māori heritage through both sides of her family.
Taika’s father was Māori and connected to Te Whānau-ā-Apanui. Chelsea has ancestry through Ngāti Ranginui and Ngāi Te Rangi.
This gives Matewa connections to different iwi, or Māori tribal groups.
Māori identity includes much more than ancestry on a family tree. It can involve:
- Whakapapa, or genealogy
- Te reo Māori, the Māori language
- Whānau, or extended family
- Connection to whenua, or land
- Tikanga, or customs and values
- Stories passed between generations
- Responsibility to community
Both Taika and Chelsea have supported Māori stories through filmmaking.
Chelsea’s work has placed particular importance on Indigenous voices and the leadership of Māori women. Taika’s films frequently include Māori characters, humor, language, and communities.
Matewa is growing up with access to this strong cultural background.
Matewa’s Jewish and European Heritage
Through Taika’s mother, Matewa also has Jewish and European ancestry.
Taika has described himself as both Māori and Jewish, sometimes using humorous language to explain his mixed identity.
His mother’s family included Russian Jewish, Irish, and other European roots.
This means Matewa belongs to a family with several cultural histories.
Children with mixed heritage do not need to choose one side and reject the others. They can learn from different family traditions while deciding how they understand their identity as they grow.
Matewa has not publicly explained her own religious beliefs, and no article should decide them for her.
Rita Ora’s Relationship With Matewa
Taika began dating British singer Rita Ora in 2021. They married in a private ceremony in August 2022.
Matewa and her sister were important participants in the wedding. Rita later said that she sees herself as something like a “fairy godmother” to Taika’s daughters.
The phrase suggests a warm and playful relationship rather than an attempt to replace their mother.
Rita has spoken positively about Chelsea and appears to understand that the girls already have an active mother.
Blended families work best when adults respect one another’s roles and avoid asking children to choose sides.
Matewa’s complete feelings about her father’s remarriage are private. Public photographs cannot tell the entire story of any family relationship.
Is Rita Ora Matewa’s Stepmother?
Yes. Rita Ora became Matewa’s stepmother after marrying Taika Waititi in 2022.
Rita is a British singer and actress born in Kosovo to Albanian parents. Her hit songs include “Hot Right Now,” “Anywhere,” “Your Song,” and “Let You Love Me.”
She has also appeared in films and served as a judge or presenter on television talent programs.
Rita has said she enjoys fun outings and special experiences with Taika’s daughters. Her comments suggest affection, but she does not publicly claim to replace Chelsea.
Matewa therefore has a mother, a father, and a stepmother within her family structure.
Does Matewa Have Social Media?
Matewa should not have any unverified private account identified or shared by biography websites.
She has appeared on social media through posts made by adult family members. This is different from operating a verified public page herself.
Accounts using Matewa’s name may be fan pages, impersonations, or unrelated users.
Because she is a minor, strangers should not attempt to contact her, follow private accounts, or collect personal photographs.
Her parents can decide which images they wish to share while she is young. As she grows older, Matewa will be able to make more decisions about her own public identity.
Where Does Matewa Attend School?
Matewa’s school is private and should remain private.
Publishing a child’s school can create safety risks. It can expose daily routines, locations, and schedules that have no place in a general biography.
There is no public need to know the name of her teachers, classmates, or school.
What can reasonably be said is that Matewa is of school age and is being raised across a family world connected to New Zealand and international filmmaking.
Any website claiming to know her exact current school should not be trusted without a clear and responsible reason for publishing that information.
What Is Matewa Kiritapu’s Net Worth?
Matewa does not have a verified personal net worth.
Some websites assign large financial estimates to celebrity children. These numbers are misleading because they often combine a parent’s estimated fortune with unsupported assumptions.
Taika Waititi’s successful films do not automatically make every dollar his daughter’s personal property.
Matewa’s small role in Thor: Love and Thunder also does not provide enough information to calculate her earnings. Contracts involving child performers are private.
She is a child, not a business figure required to disclose finances.
Where Is Matewa Kiritapu Today?
Matewa continues to grow up with support from her parents and wider family.
She has connections to New Zealand, where both her Māori heritage and much of her family’s creative work are rooted. Taika’s international career also means the family may spend time in other countries.
Her exact home, travel schedule, and daily activities should not be tracked.
Recent public information focuses mainly on her family relationships rather than a separate career.
The most accurate description is that Matewa is an 11-year-old child who made one small film appearance and occasionally joins her family at carefully selected public events.
Why People Search for Matewa Kiritapu
People became curious about Matewa for several reasons.
Taika Waititi’s popularity increased after he directed Thor: Ragnarok, won an Oscar for Jojo Rabbit, and worked on major television projects.
Her appearance in Thor: Love and Thunder then connected her directly to a global film franchise.
Interest also grew after Taika married Rita Ora. Fans wanted to understand Rita’s relationship with his children and learn about his earlier marriage to Chelsea.
Yet Matewa should not become a subject of adult celebrity gossip.
Her parents’ relationships, separations, and marriages are adult matters. Matewa deserves to grow without being asked to explain or defend those choices.
Matewa Is More Than a Celebrity Child
Matewa is often introduced as “Taika Waititi’s daughter.” That description explains public interest but cannot show her complete identity.
She also has:
- A highly accomplished filmmaker mother
- Strong Māori whakapapa
- An older sister
- An older half-brother
- A blended family
- A connection to New Zealand
- A small Marvel film credit
- A private personality still developing
Children change greatly as they grow. Interests they have at age 11 may not become adult careers.
The responsible approach is to recognize what is publicly known without creating a fixed celebrity identity for her.
Final Thoughts
Matewa Kiritapu is the youngest daughter of Taika Waititi and Chelsea Winstanley.
Born in August 2015, she grew up in a family shaped by film, comedy, Indigenous storytelling, Māori culture, travel, and creativity.
Her father is an Oscar-winning director known for films such as Boy, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Jojo Rabbit, and the Thor movies. Her mother is an award-winning Māori producer and filmmaker who works to strengthen Indigenous voices in the screen industry.
Matewa has an older sister, Te Hinekāhu, and an older maternal half-brother, Maia. Singer Rita Ora became her stepmother after marrying Taika in 2022.
Matewa received a small credit as an Asgardian child in Thor: Love and Thunder. She also attended the movie’s Sydney premiere with her father and sister.
That appearance does not mean she has chosen a permanent acting career.
Matewa remains a child who deserves privacy, education, safety, and freedom to choose her own future. Her story should celebrate her family and cultural background without exposing private information or turning her into an adult celebrity before she is ready.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Matewa Kiritapu?
Matewa Kiritapu is the youngest daughter of New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi and Māori film producer Chelsea Winstanley.
When was Matewa Kiritapu born?
She was reportedly born on August 11, 2015.
How old is Matewa Kiritapu?
Matewa is 11 years old as of September 2026.
Who is Matewa Kiritapu’s mother?
Her mother is award-winning New Zealand film producer and director Chelsea Winstanley.
Who is Matewa Kiritapu’s father?
Her father is Oscar-winning filmmaker, actor, and comedian Taika Waititi.
Does Matewa Kiritapu have a sister?
Yes. Her older sister is Te Kāinga o te Hinekāhu, often called Te Hinekāhu.
Does Matewa have a brother?
She has an older maternal half-brother named Maia.
Is Rita Ora Matewa’s mother?
No. Chelsea Winstanley is her mother. Rita Ora became Matewa’s stepmother after marrying Taika Waititi in 2022.
Was Matewa Kiritapu in Thor: Love and Thunder?
Yes. She received a small credit as an Asgardian Kid in the 2022 Marvel movie.
Is Matewa Kiritapu an actress?
She has one known childhood screen credit but does not yet have an established professional acting career.
What is Matewa Kiritapu’s net worth?
Her personal net worth is not publicly known. Estimates based on her father’s fortune are unreliable.
Where does Matewa attend school?
Her school has not been publicly confirmed and should remain private for her safety.
Where is Matewa Kiritapu today?
Matewa continues to live a family-centered life connected to New Zealand and her parents. Her precise home and daily schedule are private.
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