Matewa Kiritapu: Inside Taika Waititi’s Daughter’s Rare Screen Roles, Māori Family Roots, and Private Life

Matewa Kiritapu is the younger daughter of award-winning New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi and producer-director Chelsea Winstanley. She has already appeared in two major screen projects connected with her father, including Marvel’s Thor: Love and Thunder. Still, her family has kept most of her childhood, education, and daily life away from public attention.

Quick Bio of Matewa Kiritapu

Public profiles place Matewa’s birth in August 2015. People identified her as nine years old in June 2025, making her ten in July 2026. A dependable mainstream source has not clearly confirmed her exact birthday, despite smaller websites publishing a specific date.

Who Is Matewa Kiritapu?

Matewa Kiritapu Waititi is the younger of Taika Waititi and Chelsea Winstanley’s two daughters.

She belongs to a deeply creative New Zealand family. Her father works as a director, writer, producer, comedian, and actor. Her mother has built an important career as a producer and director with a strong interest in Indigenous stories and Māori filmmaking.

Matewa entered public attention through short appearances in projects connected with her father. She played an Asgardian child in Thor: Love and Thunder and later appeared as Girl #2 in an episode of Our Flag Means Death.

These credits do not mean she has started a full-time acting career. They remain small childhood roles created within productions where her father was already working.

How Old Is Matewa Kiritapu?

Matewa was born in August 2015.

That makes her ten years old in July 2026. She will turn eleven during August 2026.

Several entertainment websites list August 11 as her birthday. However, stronger sources confirm only the month, year, and her age during published interviews. It is safer not to present the exact day as fully verified.

Because she is still a child, readers may find different ages in older articles. A story written in 2023 may call her seven or eight, while a 2025 profile correctly described her as nine.

Her birth year offers the clearest guide: Matewa was born in 2015.

Who Are Matewa Kiritapu’s Parents?

Matewa’s parents are Taika Waititi and Chelsea Winstanley.

Both have successful careers in film, but their work often comes from different creative directions.

Taika became internationally known for movies that mix humour with emotional storytelling. His major directing credits include Boy, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Thor: Ragnarok, Jojo Rabbit, and Thor: Love and Thunder. He also played Blackbeard in Our Flag Means Death.

Chelsea has worked as a producer, writer, and director for many years. She produced What We Do in the Shadows, Merata: How Mum Decolonised the Screen, Night Raiders, and Jojo Rabbit. Her work on Jojo Rabbit brought her an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.

Growing up around both parents has given Matewa an early view of directing, producing, acting, writing, and the practical work needed to create a film.

Who Is Matewa’s Father, Taika Waititi?

Taika Waititi is a New Zealand filmmaker, writer, actor, and comedian.

He was born in Wellington in 1975 and grew up between Wellington and the Bay of Plenty. His father was Māori and connected with Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, while his mother came from Jewish and European family backgrounds.

Taika first developed a strong reputation through New Zealand films. Projects such as Boy and Hunt for the Wilderpeople mixed unusual comedy with stories about children, families, grief, and belonging.

Hollywood audiences later discovered his work through Thor: Ragnarok. He went on to win an Academy Award for the adapted screenplay of Jojo Rabbit.

Despite his large career, Taika has sometimes brought his daughters into relaxed work environments. Their small appearances show that he sees a film set as a place where family can occasionally share in the creative experience.

Who Is Matewa’s Mother, Chelsea Winstanley?

Chelsea Winstanley is an Oscar-nominated New Zealand filmmaker with Ngāti Ranginui and Ngāi Te Rangi ancestry.

She began her career after studying television production at Auckland University of Technology. Chelsea graduated at the top of her class and first became interested in documentaries and cultural storytelling.

Her work often centres Indigenous people, women, history, and Māori voices. She produced the documentary Merata: How Mum Decolonised the Screen, which explored the life and influence of filmmaker Merata Mita.

Chelsea also co-produced What We Do in the Shadows and became an Oscar nominee through Jojo Rabbit. More recently, she has continued directing and producing projects in Aotearoa New Zealand.

This means Matewa has two parents who understand the film world from several sides. Her father may be more internationally visible, but her mother has built a respected and important career of her own.

Does Matewa Kiritapu Have a Sister?

Yes. Matewa has an older sister named Te Kāinga o te Hinekāhu.

The sisters are only a few years apart. They have attended family events and appeared in screen projects together.

Both girls played Asgardian children in Thor: Love and Thunder. People included them in a feature about actors and filmmakers who had shared the screen with their children.

Their relationship remains private. There are no dependable public interviews in which either sister discusses school, friendships, disagreements, or everyday home life.

That privacy is appropriate. Public interest in their parents does not make every childhood detail public information.

Was Matewa Kiritapu in Thor: Love and Thunder?

Yes. Matewa appeared in the 2022 Marvel film Thor: Love and Thunder.

IMDb credits her as an Asgardian Kid. Her sister also played one of the children in the movie.

The film became a family-friendly production in a very real way. Children belonging to Taika Waititi, Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, and Christian Bale appeared in small roles or helped inspire parts of the story.

Taika explained that he enjoyed having cast and crew members’ children around the set because they created a more relaxed environment. The young visitors also helped develop ideas for the strange creatures shown in the movie.

Matewa’s appearance was brief. She did not play a major character or take part in the central storyline.

Even so, the role gave her an official credit in one of the world’s biggest film series while she was still very young.

What Was Matewa’s Role in the Marvel Film?

Matewa played one of the Asgardian children threatened by Gorr the God Butcher.

In the story, Gorr takes a group of children from New Asgard. Thor and his friends then try to rescue them.

The young characters become important near the end of the film when Thor shares his power with them. This allows the children to fight the shadow creatures and protect one another.

Matewa did not have a large speaking part. Her role worked mainly as part of the group rather than as an individually developed character. IMDb therefore lists her simply as an Asgardian Kid.

Small roles like this can be enjoyable for children because they allow them to experience filmmaking without carrying the pressure of leading an entire production.

Did Matewa Appear in Our Flag Means Death?

Matewa also received a credit for Our Flag Means Death.

IMDb lists her as Girl #2 in the second-season episode “Calypso’s Birthday,” which was released in 2023.

The comedy series follows a wealthy man named Stede Bonnet who leaves his comfortable life and attempts to become a pirate. Taika Waititi appeared as the legendary pirate Blackbeard and also served as an executive producer.

Once again, Matewa’s part was very small. No reliable source suggests that she joined the show as a permanent cast member.

Her appearance is best understood as another family-connected screen experience rather than proof of a large professional acting career.

Is Matewa Kiritapu a Professional Actress?

Matewa has acting credits, but it may be too early to call her a professional actress with an established career.

She has appeared in a Marvel film and a television comedy. Those are real credits. However, she has not announced a new independent project, joined a publicly known talent agency, or discussed plans to work regularly as an actress.

Many children appear briefly in projects created by their parents. Some later continue acting, while others choose education, art, sport, science, business, or completely private careers.

Matewa is still young. She has plenty of time to discover what interests her.

It would be unfair to decide her future based only on two childhood appearances.

What Does Matewa Kiritapu’s Name Mean?

Public sources do not provide a complete explanation of why her parents selected the name Matewa Kiritapu.

Both names have strong connections with Māori language and family heritage. However, names may carry personal, ancestral, or spiritual meanings that cannot be understood through a simple online translation.

The phrase “mā te wā” can relate to time and is sometimes used in the sense of “time will tell” or “see you later.” Still, that dictionary phrase does not automatically explain the meaning of Matewa’s personal name.

Kiritapu also appears within Chelsea Winstanley’s family history. Chelsea’s maternal grandmother was named Kiritapu “Kitty” Wilson. Yet no dependable family statement confirms that Matewa received her middle name directly in honour of that relative.

It is therefore best to respect the name without inventing a complete meaning or family story.

What Are Matewa’s Māori Roots?

Matewa comes from Māori heritage through both sides of her family.

Taika has Māori ancestry through his father and has spoken openly about growing up more closely connected with that part of his background. His family links include Te Whānau-ā-Apanui.

Chelsea belongs to Ngāti Ranginui and Ngāi Te Rangi. Her career has placed a strong focus on Indigenous filmmaking, Māori stories, and creating greater space for Indigenous women behind the camera.

Matewa’s family background therefore involves more than celebrity or Hollywood.

It includes Māori culture, language, community, filmmaking, and a history of using stories to protect identity.

Is Matewa Connected With Matewa Media?

Chelsea Winstanley helped create a company called Matewa Media with Tweedie Waititi.

The company develops Māori-language versions of major Disney films. Its projects have included Moana, The Lion King, Frozen, Coco, Encanto, and Moana 2 in te reo Māori.

Despite sharing Matewa’s first name, the company was reportedly named after Tweedie Waititi’s grandmother, Matewa Delamere. It was not named directly after Matewa Kiritapu.

However, the wider family’s children helped inspire the project.

The idea grew after family members watched the original Moana repeatedly and wanted young Māori viewers to experience major Disney stories in their own language.

Matewa has therefore grown up close to work that connects entertainment with language protection and cultural pride.

Are Matewa’s Parents Still Together?

Taika Waititi and Chelsea Winstanley are no longer a couple.

They married in 2011 and had two daughters. Reports say they separated in 2018.

Both parents have continued their creative careers since the separation.

Public sources do not reveal the private details of their parenting schedule. Claims about exactly where Matewa lives, how much time she spends with each parent, or private custody arrangements should be treated carefully.

Those matters belong to the family.

The information available publicly simply shows that Matewa remains connected with both sides of her creative family.

Who Is Matewa’s Stepmother, Rita Ora?

British singer and actress Rita Ora married Taika Waititi in 2022.

Rita has spoken warmly about her place in the lives of Taika’s daughters. In a 2025 interview, she jokingly described herself as a “fairy godmother” who enjoys giving the children sweets, ice cream, and fun experiences before sending them home.

She also expressed affection and respect for Chelsea Winstanley.

Rita’s comments presented the blended family in a friendly way. Rather than suggesting competition between the adults, she spoke about enjoying the children while respecting their mother’s central role.

Matewa and her sister also attended Taika and Rita’s small wedding ceremony. The couple planned the private event quickly so the girls could be present.

Is Matewa Close to Rita Ora?

Rita’s public comments suggest that she shares a warm relationship with Matewa and her sister.

She has discussed taking them to concerts and introducing them to musicians. Her approach appears playful rather than strict, which explains her use of the “fairy godmother” description.

However, Matewa has not given an interview about Rita.

It would be unfair to make stronger claims about their private bond based only on adult interviews and event photographs.

The reliable public record shows that Rita enjoys spending time with both girls and speaks respectfully about Chelsea.

Where Does Matewa Kiritapu Go to School?

Matewa’s school has not been publicly confirmed by a reliable source.

Several biography websites guess her school level or claim to know where she studies. These pages do not provide official family statements or trustworthy records.

Sharing the location of a child’s school could also create a privacy and safety problem.

It is enough to say that Matewa is of normal school age. Her exact school, classmates, teachers, academic results, and daily schedule should remain private.

What Are Matewa Kiritapu’s Interests?

No dependable interview clearly lists Matewa’s hobbies or long-term interests.

She has spent time on film sets and appeared in two projects, so she may enjoy acting or storytelling. Still, that possibility should not become a factual claim about her future.

Her family environment may expose her to movies, music, art, Māori culture, travel, and creative work. Exposure does not always become a career.

Children often change their interests as they grow.

Matewa may eventually choose acting, directing, writing, producing, music, design, sport, education, or a life outside entertainment.

Is Matewa Kiritapu on Social Media?

No widely verified public social-media account is known to belong to Matewa.

Pictures of her sometimes appear through adult relatives’ accounts or entertainment coverage. That is different from running her own public profile.

Accounts using her name may belong to fan pages, impersonators, or unrelated people.

Because she is a minor, readers should avoid following pages that claim to share private school information, personal messages, current locations, or family details.

Does Matewa Kiritapu Have a Net Worth?

There is no trustworthy public record of Matewa Kiritapu’s personal net worth.

She is a child with two small screen credits. No public information confirms her acting payments, savings, trust arrangements, contracts, or personal assets.

Celebrity websites sometimes publish large estimates based on her parents’ success. That method is misleading.

Taika Waititi’s earnings and Chelsea Winstanley’s professional income do not become their daughter’s individual net worth.

Any exact figure attached to Matewa should be treated as an unsupported guess.

Why Are People Interested in Matewa Kiritapu?

Most people discover Matewa while learning about Taika Waititi’s family.

His work in Marvel movies, Jojo Rabbit, and Our Flag Means Death has attracted a worldwide audience. Fans naturally become interested when they learn that his daughters appeared in two of his projects.

Chelsea’s career adds another important reason for interest.

Matewa is not simply the daughter of a famous Hollywood director. She is also the daughter of an Oscar-nominated Māori producer who works to strengthen Indigenous stories and filmmaking.

Her short screen appearances sit inside a larger family story about creativity, Māori identity, film, language, and modern blended family life.

Why Does Matewa Live Such a Private Life?

Matewa has public parents, but she is not a public adult who chose celebrity life.

Her family shares selected moments while keeping important details away from the media. This allows her to attend school, build friendships, and grow without every experience becoming news.

Taika has discussed fatherhood and occasionally shared family pictures. Chelsea has also posted loving messages about her daughter. Neither parent appears to have created a daily public brand around Matewa’s childhood.

That balance matters.

A child can appear briefly in a film and still deserve privacy in every other part of life.

Final Thoughts

Matewa Kiritapu was born in August 2015 into one of New Zealand’s most creative filmmaking families.

Her father, Taika Waititi, became an internationally successful director, actor, and writer. Her mother, Chelsea Winstanley, developed a respected career producing and directing stories connected with Māori people, women, and Indigenous communities.

Matewa has already shared two small screen experiences with her family.

She appeared as an Asgardian child in Thor: Love and Thunder and later played Girl #2 in an episode of Our Flag Means Death.

These roles make her a young screen performer, but they do not tell us what she will become.

Matewa has not announced plans for a professional acting career. Her school, hobbies, friendships, and future goals remain private.

She also belongs to a wider blended family. Her older sister has appeared beside her on screen, while Rita Ora has spoken warmly about being a playful stepmother figure in the girls’ lives.

For now, Matewa’s story is not about fame or money.

It is about a child growing up around cinema, Māori culture, creative parents, and unusual opportunities while still receiving space to discover her own identity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Matewa Kiritapu?

Matewa Kiritapu is the younger daughter of New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi and producer-director Chelsea Winstanley. She has appeared in Thor: Love and Thunder and Our Flag Means Death.

What is Matewa Kiritapu’s full name?

Her full public name is Matewa Kiritapu Waititi.

How old is Matewa Kiritapu?

She is ten years old as of July 2026. Public profiles place her birth in August 2015.

When is Matewa Kiritapu’s birthday?

Her birth month is reported as August 2015. A reliable mainstream source has not clearly confirmed the exact day.

Who is Matewa Kiritapu’s mother?

Her mother is Chelsea Winstanley, an Oscar-nominated New Zealand producer and director.

Who is Matewa Kiritapu’s father?

Her father is Taika Waititi, the award-winning director of films including Jojo Rabbit, Thor: Ragnarok, and Thor: Love and Thunder.

Does Matewa Kiritapu have a sister?

Yes. Her older sister is Te Kāinga o te Hinekāhu.

Was Matewa Kiritapu in a Marvel movie?

Yes. She played an Asgardian Kid in Thor: Love and Thunder.

Was Matewa in Our Flag Means Death?

Yes. She appeared as Girl #2 in the episode “Calypso’s Birthday.”

Is Matewa Kiritapu an actress?

She has two verified acting credits, but no dependable source confirms that she is currently building a full-time professional acting career.

Is Rita Ora Matewa Kiritapu’s mother?

No. Chelsea Winstanley is her biological mother. Rita Ora is married to Matewa’s father and has described herself as a playful “fairy godmother” figure to his daughters.

Did Matewa attend Taika Waititi and Rita Ora’s wedding?

Reports say Taika’s daughters attended the couple’s small 2022 ceremony.

What school does Matewa Kiritapu attend?

Her school has not been publicly confirmed, and that information should remain private because she is a minor.

Is Matewa Kiritapu on Instagram?

No widely recognised verified public Instagram account is known to belong to her.

What is Matewa Kiritapu’s net worth?

Her personal net worth is unknown. Figures published by celebrity biography websites are unsupported estimates based largely on her parents’ success.

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