Maia Mariner (Ngai Tai, Samoa) is the founder of Lazy Sneakers, a not-for-profit organisation that collects and redistributes reusable sneakers for free. Maia is 15. She came up with this idea at 12 and has enabled tamariki to participate in sports and other activities, right across Pōneke and around the country, with a simple pair of shoes.
From size 18-plus basketball kicks, to a styley pair of chucks, this kōhine is changing lives.
In this episode Maia gives us an insight into what it’s like being a young Indigneous woman in Aotearoa today. She shares with us the highlights of her mahi helping young and old and opens our eyes to the realities of running a charity, while still being in high school. And, (thanks to some encouragement from her whāngai NUKU aunties) she tells you how you can help her achieve her dreams.
I get stereotyped quite a bit. People assume I know everything about all Indigenous or Pacific cultures.
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