Ryn Peni Matenga
UNESCO Aotearoa Youth Leader
Ryn Peni Matenga is a young activist and advocate for inclusion and equity in Aotearoa New Zealand. Raised in Foxton and with whakapapa to Ngāti Raukawa ki te Tonga, their lived experience shapes a commitment to representative leadership.
Ryn is a recipient of the Rainbow NZ Charitable Trust Scholarship and the King Country Energy Mangahao Next Generation Scholarship, and has held leadership roles in community and student spaces focused on sustainability, democracy, and education. They have previously studied Business at Massey University.
Ryn is currently studying a Bachelor of Commerce majoring Public Policy at Victoria University of Wellington, with interests in culture, wellbeing, and emerging digital technology concerns