Inspiring growth and legacy through courageous cultural leadership and hustle

Profile

Anton Matthews is a driven entrepreneur and a passionate advocate for Māori culture, dedicated to embedding te reo Māori and tikanga into every venture.

As the founder and director of Hustle Group in Ōtautahi, Christchurch, Anton has established a resilient hospitality collective, which includes Joe’s Garage Wigram, Fush, and Tātou Tātou, reflecting his commitment to hard work, resilience, and a tenacious spirit. His dedication to Māori values shines through in every facet of his business, offering an inspiring blend of cultural heritage and modern success.

Beyond hospitality, Anton leads Hustle Education, a programme focused on building cultural confidence across Aotearoa, empowering individuals and organisations to embrace Māori culture meaningfully. His work with Angitu Trust further illustrates his commitment to community, fostering opportunities for rangatahi and making te reo Māori accessible to all. Anton’s vision for a more inclusive Aotearoa highlights how the fusion of cultural values and drive can foster both personal and community strength, establishing him as a prominent voice in values-based leadership across New Zealand.

Expertise

Talking Points

Courageous Cultural Leadership: Embedding Māori Values into Business for Long-Lasting Success

In this keynote, Anton shares his journey of weaving tikanga and te reo Māori into every layer of his business, showing how Māori values like manaakitanga (hospitality) aroha (love and care) and whanaungatanga (connection) can transform workplace culture and strengthen community bonds.
Audiences will gain practical tools to build workplaces that thrive on authenticity and integrity, while building mana and driving success through cultural understanding and resilience.

The Art of Hustling with Purpose: Balancing Hard Work, Whānau, and Wellbeing

Is it possible to balance the demands of business with the values of whānau and self-care? In this keynote, Anton dives into his journey of building a successful business while staying connected to his whānau and wellbeing. This is a raw conversation where Anton shares the good the bad and the ugly. Attendees will walk away with strategies for achieving resilience and sustainable growth, proving that we can succeed in our careers without sacrificing what truly matters.

Beyond Bias: Understanding the Unconscious Mind to Build a More Inclusive Aotearoa

Drawing from his understanding of the unconscious mind, Anton explores how centuries of cultural stereotypes have shaped unconscious bias in New Zealand. This talk invites audiences to examine and address their own biases without judgment, fostering greater awareness and inclusivity. By becoming more conscious of our biases, we can build stronger, more open workplaces and communities that celebrate diversity.

Lessons from Māui: Tūpuna (Ancestral) Wisdom for Modern Challenges

Anton takes audiences on an inspiring journey through the legendary stories of Māui, uncovering the life lessons and wisdom that our tūpuna embedded within these tales. From Māui slowing the sun to fishing up Te Ika a Māui, Anton reinterprets these stories to show how they teach resilience, curiosity, and courage. This keynote is a celebration of Māori storytelling traditions and the timeless wisdom they offer to help us navigate today’s challenges.

Demystifying Te Tiriti o Waitangi: Understanding its History, Principles, and Modern Impact

In this keynote, Anton provides a fresh, accessible approach to understanding Te Tiriti o Waitangi, guiding audiences through its historical context, core principles, and relevance in today’s world. With a focus on education rather than division, Anton breaks down the complexities of Te Tiriti in a way that resonates with everyone. This talk invites participants to gain clarity on the significance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and encourages them to consider how its principles can be meaningfully incorporated into daily practices and leadership. By demystifying Te Tiriti, Anton helps audiences foster a deeper appreciation of its impact on Aotearoa’s past, present, and future, sparking positive, inclusive change across workplaces and communities.