About Us

Mātai Media & Our Collective

Mātai Media is an internationally roaming content-creation company that was born in Aotearoa, New Zealand. We collaborate with clients and organisations from all over the globe whose values and philosophies care for and benefit the social, political and environmental spheres of our world.

‍Mātai Collective collaborates with various Creatives, sharing a wealth of skills and experience, adding to our fresh, unique style.

Mātai Collective

Who We Are

Portrait photo of Lu smiling, looking to the side, holding a camera

Ko Rakaumangamanga te taketea
Ko Taumerere te awa
Ko Ngatokimatawharua te waka
Ko Karetu toku turangawaewae
Ko Karetu toku marae
Ko Ngāti Manu te hapu
Ko Ngā Puhi te iwi
Ko Louise toku ingoa
Ko Pōneke ahau

Lu Davidson

Creative Producer // Videographer // Ecologist

Founder and Creative Director of Mātai Media

Lu supports others to clarify and communicate their calling, simplifying complicated messages for new audiences, aiming to captivate and educate. Her wide range of clients include consultancies, public sector, NGOs, agencies and production companies. She taught filmmaking in the Himalayas, Europe and New Zealand, worked as an Expedition Videographer at sea and in Antarctica and received International Awards for her short films. She isn’t afraid to push boundaries and mash-up genres, all in the name of storytelling.
Portrait photo of Betsy smiling with her hand on her hip and a yellow background

Betsy Bauer

Editor // Producer

Mātai Collective Dream-Team Member

Betsy is currently wrangling timelines and pixels as the Senior Media Producer & Post-Production Manager at the legendary Wētā Workshop. She's cut and graded everything from award-winning TV series and feature films to bite-sized content. With a passion for blending the technical with the creative, Betsy brings both precision and heart to every frame. She's teamed up with Lu for over a decade now—fuelled by English Breakfast tea and a shared love of creating quality, engaging media.
Jess Papini, team member of Matai Media, taking a photo with a Nikon camera

Jess Papini

Copywriter // Photographer // Anthropologist

Mātai Collective Dream-Team Member

Jess has volunteered in social projects, proofread academic papers, taught English and copy-written for various genres, empowering her photography and writing about various cultures and environments. She is currently a copywriter for the World Health Organization, using her background in urban studies, social and health science-informed advice and content creation. Check out her photography here and her writing portfolio here.
Headshot photo of Bruna smiling

Bruna Miguel

Data Analyst // Strategist // Creative Writer

Mātai Collective Dream-Team Member

Bruna is our Data Analyst with a background in Mathematics and International Business, and work experience in various online marketing channels. She has specialised in Corporate Social Responsibility, aligning with her life-long passion for animal welfare and social-environmental causes.
Portrait photo of Jono smiling holding a camera on his shoulder

Jono Obern

Videographer // Voice over artist // Musician

Collaborator for epic video projects

Jono is a humble rockstar working collaboratively with Mātai Media. From cinematic drone shots to dulcet toned voice overs, there's always another creative way to sink his passion for filmmaking into. As director of photography on many short films and campaign videos, bringing cinematic stories to the world is one of Jono’s great life pleasures as well as making music.
A portrait photo of Alex, smiling, holding a small cup.

Alex Mohua

Web Designer // Developer

Collaborator for web design projects

Alex is a creative force behind the design of the Mātai Media website. With a keen eye for detail and a patient, humble approach, Alex brings a wealth of experience to every project. An excellent communicator, he understands the nuances of clients' needs, offering insightful advice at every turn.
Portrait photo of Carla smiling with snowy tundra in the background

Carla Braun-Elwert

Filmmaker // Editor // Legendary Mountaineer

Enthusiastic advocate of Mātai Media

Carla‘s filmmaking journey began with an Honours’ degree in Biochemistry and a Masters in Natural History Filmmaking. The adventure took her to Germany - where she began her career editing wildlife films. Currently residing in Bavaria, she is working on adventure films, in between scampering up mountains, drawing, writing and figuring out how to come back to NZ.
Portrait photo of Beka smiling with her hand on her hip

Beka Whale

Creative // Illustrator // Experience Designer

Collaborator for epic video & animation projects

Beka is a multidisciplinary creative, bringing soul and human expressivity to the work. She has a colourful wealth of experience, working across the realms of theatre and film, social enterprise and sustainability/resilience. She’s a powerhouse with a toolkit, prioritising interactivity and bringing the handmade to the digital. Check out her work with the League of Live Illustrators and her website.
Lorna, team member of Matai Media, posing for a photo with a colorful street art wall background

Lorna McDowell

Content Writer // Copy Editor

Mātai Collective Associate

Lorna is a powerful copywriter, blogger and editor. She has worked across the nonprofit and private sectors and volunteered for social initiatives. She focuses on the English language, visual cultures and bringing objects to life by telling important social and political stories. She has managed content for an NGO focused on transforming the global food system into one that’s plant-based and sustainable.
Josie, a Matai Media team member, holding a small native NZ bird

Josie Galbraith

Illustrator // Scientist

Co-creator of “Feeding New Zealand Birds”

Josie is one bad-ass illustrator and artist. Excuses are not a part of her mentality, giving the middle-finger to her neurological condition which threatens the motor-skills in her hands. With a PhD in Science, her forays typically involve birds, animal behaviour, invasive species, or urban ecology and dressing up like a pirate.
Char, team member of Matai Media, wearing a onesie with a dead pan expression while holding a dog.

Char Hayes

Filmmaker // Humble Mastermind

Collaborator for epic video & animation projects

Char’s fresh perspective for scripts and editing makes her one of Lu greatest allies in the pursuit of powerful storytelling. She has collaborated on many productions with Mātai Media, whilst juggling an array of positive initiatives: coordinating festivals, building cafes, supporting political campaigns and being a general super-human.

CONTEXT

The Meaning Behind "Mātai"

The word Mātai has many meanings in Te Reo Māori, the inidigenous language of Aotearoa (New Zealand) and of the ancestors of the Founder of Mātai Media, Lu Davidson. Mataī is a strong and powerful native tree of Aotearoa, whilst Mātai means to gaze upon longingly or to investigate and observe, the motivation for the content we produce. Mātai Media grows from both words – connecting strong respect for the natural environment and creating content that inspires positive impact whilst being inquisitive.

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