Who Is Matewa Kiritapu? Taika Waititi’s Daughter Explained

Matewa Kiritapu Waititi is the eldest daughter of Oscar-winning director Taika Waititi and film producer Chelsea Winstanley, best known for her brief appearance in a Marvel blockbuster. She was born into one of the most creative families in the film industry. 

Despite her father’s global fame, Matewa lives a quiet, private life. Her story is one of cultural pride, family love, and growing up far from the Hollywood spotlight.

Who is Matewa Kiritapu?

Matewa Kiritapu is Taika Waititi’s daughter, born on August 11, 2015, in Wellington, New Zealand. She is 10 years old as of 2026. Her full name, Matewa Kiritapu Waititi, carries deep Maori roots. Both her parents are connected to the film world, which makes her upbringing unlike most kids her age.

She is still very young. But people search for her often because of her father’s massive influence in Hollywood. Taika Waititi has directed films like Thor: Ragnarok, Jojo Rabbit, and Thor: Love and Thunder. Naturally, fans want to know more about his family, especially his daughters.

Matewa keeps a low profile. She does not have any confirmed social media accounts. Her parents have always worked hard to keep her life private and protected.

Profile Summary

Field	Detail
Full Name	Matewa Kiritapu Waititi
Date of Birth	August 11, 2015
Age (2026)	11 years old
Birthplace	Wellington, New Zealand
Nationality	New Zealander
Father	Taika Waititi
Mother	Chelsea Winstanley
Siblings	Te Hinekahu Waititi (younger sister)

Early Life of Matewa Kiritapu Childhood

Matewa Kiritapu was born in Wellington, a city known for its strong creative arts culture and connection to New Zealand’s film industry. Wellington is also where Weta Workshop operates, the studio behind the visual effects for The Lord of the Rings. Growing up in that environment gives you a head start in understanding storytelling.

Her father, Taika Waititi, is of Maori and Jewish descent. Her mother, Chelsea Winstanley, is a Maori film producer who has worked on several of Taika’s projects. So from both sides, Matewa inherited a rich creative and cultural background.

Born Into Maori Heritage

The name Matewa Kiritapu is rooted in Maori culture. Taika has always been vocal about the importance of Maori identity. He named both his daughters with Maori names, which reflects how seriously he takes their cultural upbringing. Maori heritage is not just a label for this family. It shapes how they see the world.

Taika has said in interviews that he wants his kids to stay connected to their roots, no matter how far his career takes him. That kind of grounding matters a lot when you are growing up in the middle of Hollywood attention.

Shielded From the Public Eye

From day one, both Taika and Chelsea chose to keep Matewa’s childhood away from cameras and press. That is a conscious choice many celebrity parents make, but not all follow through on it. This family has. Apart from a few rare glimpses, Matewa’s early life remains mostly private.

Career Overview of Matewa Kiritapu

Matewa Kiritapu’s career as a child actress is short but memorable. She appeared in Thor: Love and Thunder, the 2022 Marvel film directed by her father Taika Waititi. In the film, she played an Asgardian child. It was a small role but a real screen appearance in a massive Marvel production.

The Thor: Love and Thunder Appearance

Thor: Love and Thunder made over 760 million dollars worldwide. It starred Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, and Christian Bale. Matewa’s role was minor but it put her name on one of the biggest films of 2022. Being in a Marvel production at such a young age is rare, even for kids of directors.

Taika has a habit of including family in his work. He believes filmmaking is a family experience. This cameo fits perfectly into that belief.

What Comes Next?

No confirmed acting projects exist for Matewa beyond her Marvel appearance. She is 10 years old. It is far too early to define her career path. Some celebrity kids follow their parents into the industry. Others choose a completely different road. Right now, Matewa is simply a child growing up and figuring things out.

Siblings and Family Bond

Matewa Kiritapu has one younger sister named Te Hinekahu Waititi. Both girls were born to Taika Waititi and Chelsea Winstanley. Te Hinekahu is also kept away from the public eye, following the same approach her parents apply to Matewa.

Taika has spoken warmly about fatherhood in various interviews. He describes parenting as one of the most grounding parts of his life. For a man who travels the world directing blockbusters, coming home to his daughters keeps things real.

The bond between Matewa Kiritapu and her sister Te Hinekahu appears to be close, based on the few moments Taika has shared publicly. Growing up together, sharing the same cultural background and the same unique family situation, likely creates a strong connection between them.

Family Change and Support Systems

Taika Waititi and Chelsea Winstanley married in 2012. They separated reportedly around 2018. Co-parenting became the new normal for this family. Both parents have remained involved in their daughters’ lives, which matters most in situations like this.

Taika later became publicly linked to singer Rita Ora. The two married in 2021. This introduced a new dynamic to the family. However, from what has been shared publicly, the transition appears to have been handled with care, especially where the children are concerned.

Chelsea Winstanley continues to work in the film industry as a producer. She is a grounded presence in her daughters’ lives. Her work on films connected to Maori storytelling reflects the same values she likely passes on at home.

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What Good Co-Parenting Looks Like

Research from the American Psychological Association shows that children fare better after family changes when both parents stay actively involved and keep conflict low. Based on what Taika and Chelsea have shared publicly, they appear to be doing exactly that. Matewa and Te Hinekahu seem to have stable, loving support from both sides.

Life After the First Film

After her appearance in Thor: Love and Thunder, Matewa returned to a normal childhood. No follow-up roles have been confirmed. That is actually refreshing. Many child actors get pushed into the industry early and burn out fast. Matewa’s situation looks different.

Taika’s career, on the other hand, kept climbing. After Thor: Ragnarok he won an Oscar for Jojo Rabbit in 2020. Thor: Love and Thunder followed in 2022. He became one of the most in-demand directors in Hollywood. The contrast between his skyrocketing public life and his daughter’s quiet private one is quite striking.

That contrast seems intentional. Taika clearly wants his kids to have a childhood that is theirs, not one lived through a camera lens.

Travel Experiences with Taika Waititi

One thing that likely shapes Matewa Kiritapu’s lifestyle is travel. Taika works across multiple countries. He splits his time between New Zealand, the United States, and the United Kingdom. His daughters reportedly travel with him at times, which means Matewa has probably seen more of the world before age 10 than most adults have by 30.

That kind of exposure builds perspective. Experiencing different cultures, food, languages, and environments at a young age does something to how you think. Combined with her Maori heritage and creative family background, Matewa is growing up with a very rich view of the world.

New Zealand remains the family’s cultural home base. Taika has made it clear that no matter where work takes him, his roots are in New Zealand and he wants his daughters to feel the same.

Matewa Kiritapu’s Daily Life and Hobbies

Not much is confirmed about Matewa Kiritapu’s daily life and hobbies. She is a private individual, and her parents have kept things that way. However, growing up in a household driven by storytelling, visual arts, and filmmaking gives some reasonable context.

Kids raised in creative environments often gravitate toward similar pursuits. Possible interests, based on her family background, could include:

• Drawing and painting
• Storytelling and writing
• Dancing or performing arts
• Video games
• Sports and outdoor activities

These are estimates, not confirmed facts. What is clear is that she attends school and lives as close to a normal childhood as someone in her position can.

A Normal Kid in an Extraordinary Family

That balance is actually hard to pull off. Plenty of celebrity kids end up in tabloids, on Instagram, or caught in their parents’ drama. Matewa is none of those things. At 10 years old, she is just a kid. And that seems very much by design.

Future Plans for Matewa Kiritapu

No official future plans for Matewa Kiritapu have been announced. She is 10 years old in 2026. Any talk about her future career or direction would be speculation at this point.

What we do know is that she has options. Her family connections to the film industry, her Maori cultural background, and her early screen experience in a Marvel film give her a strong foundation if she ever wants to pursue acting, directing, producing, or any creative field.

Taika has said publicly that he wants his daughters to follow whatever path makes them happy. He does not push them toward the industry. That approach gives Matewa the freedom to become whoever she wants to be on her own terms.

Where is Matewa Kiritapu Now?

As of 2026, Matewa Kiritapu is believed to be living privately, likely between New Zealand and wherever her parents are based at any given time. She has no confirmed social media presence. She is not in the public eye in any active way.

She is 10 years old. School is her main focus. Family is her main world. That is exactly how it should be at this stage of life.

Key Facts About Matewa Kiritapu

Here are 10 quick, verified or carefully hedged facts about Matewa Kiritapu Waititi:

• Her full name is Matewa Kiritapu Waititi
• She was born on August 11, 2015, in Wellington, New Zealand
• She is 10 years old as of 2026
• Her father is Oscar-winning director Taika Waititi
• Her mother is Maori film producer Chelsea Winstanley
• She appeared as an Asgardian child in Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
• Her younger sister is Te Hinekahu Waititi
• Her name has strong Maori cultural roots
• She holds New Zealand nationality
• She has no known public social media accounts

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who is Matewa Kiritapu? 

Matewa Kiritapu is the eldest daughter of director Taika Waititi and producer Chelsea Winstanley, born on August 11, 2015, in Wellington, New Zealand.

How old is Matewa Kiritapu? 

She is 10 years old as of 2026.

What movie did Matewa Kiritapu appear in? 

She appeared in Thor: Love and Thunder (2022), playing an Asgardian child in the Marvel film directed by her father.

Who are Matewa Kiritapu’s parents? 

Her parents are Taika Waititi and Chelsea Winstanley.

Does Matewa Kiritapu have siblings? 

Yes. She has one younger sister named Te Hinekahu Waititi.

What is Matewa Kiritapu’s nationality? 

She is a New Zealander, born in Wellington.

Does Matewa Kiritapu have social media? 

No confirmed public accounts exist for her.

What is Matewa Kiritapu’s net worth? 

Her net worth is not publicly disclosed.

Final Word

Matewa Kiritapu Waititi is 10 years old and already has a Marvel credit to her name. But more than that, she is a kid growing up with strong Maori roots, two hardworking parents, and a cultural identity worth being proud of. Her story is just beginning. 

Whatever path she chooses, she starts from a place of real advantage, not just because of her famous father, but because of the values her whole family has clearly worked to pass down to her.