Matariki Bennett (Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Whakaue) is a 22 year old award-winning Poet and Filmmaker. Matariki's first book, 'e kō, nō hea koe' will be published by Dead Bird Books in early May 2025. She is a founding member of Ngā Hinepūkōrero, a bilingual Slam Poetry Collective, who in 2021, were honoured with the Creative New Zealand Ngā Manu Pirere Award, recognising outstanding emerging Māori artists. In 2023, Matariki was the Wellington Poetry Slam Champion. Her work has been on display in collaborative exhibitions with her sister, Māhina and brother, Tīhema at Corban's Estate and at the Caretaker Cottage in Tāmaki Makaurau. Most notably, the film she co-wrote and co-directed, 'Te Kohu' (2022)' was nominated for 3 awards at the NZ Film and Television awards, and her short documentary, 'Wind, Song and Rain (2022)' screened at ImagineNative in Toronto.