A major milestone for Rauawaawa Kaumātua Charitable Trust was reached, as they proudly trialled their inaugural Kaumātua Tech Tournament — a celebration of innovation, wellbeing, and Kaumātua leadership in the digital space.

Over recent weeks, kaumātua have been engaging with a brain-training game called He Maumahara, which was co-designed by and for kaumātua. The tournament provided an opportunity for them to put their skills to the test, competing for top scores across three levels of gameplay.

This kaupapa was born from a series of hui with kaumātua, where they voiced strong concerns around brain health. While many felt confident navigating physical health challenges, cognitive decline raised fears around losing independence and the ability to make decisions for themselves. This led to brain health being identified as a key area of focus.

Thanks to the generous support of The Selwyn Foundation, Rauawaawa was able to develop the game in partnership with kaumātua, weaving together Mātauranga Māori and digital innovation. Rangatahi, including Cameron, Jay and Javon, as well as other kaimahi, contributed their gaming expertise and creativity to help bring this vision to life.

The day itself was a true team effort, brought together beautifully by Rauawaawa’s dedicated staff — including Donna, Aaron, and Shobana — and lead by Rangimahora, who ensured the event was a success from start to finish.

The kaupapa has also been strengthened by the guidance of neuroscientists Professor Louise Parr-Brownlie and Professor John Reynolds, who provided valuable input to ensure the games are not only engaging but also scientifically aligned with cognitive wellbeing.

This is just the beginning of Rauawaawa’s journey in the tech and brain health space, and the Trust is excited about what’s to come as they continue to innovate alongside their kaumātua.

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