About Us

Girls Rock offer holiday programmes for young women, trans, intersex, takatāpui, queer and gender-diverse youth where music is the medium to build confidence, empowerment and foster social change. Youth between the ages of 12-17 years will form bands, learn instruments, attend workshops and write an original song to be performed at a concert for friends and family.

The Pathways programme offers collaborative workshops and mentorship for youth aged 16-19 developing our next generation of To The Front organisers.

1.

To help young women, and/or intersex, trans, takatāpui, queer and gender diverse youth build confidence and practical skills in songwriting and music through tutoring and practice.

2.

To utilise the talent of local songwriters and music-makers to help mentor and guide participants.

3.

To educate young people through talks and collaborative workshops on songwriting, design, feminism and wellbeing.

Eliana Gray
(They/Them)

Chair & Development & Wellbeing coordinator

Eliana Gray has been involved with Girls Rock Aotearoa since its inception and thinks it’s one of the most important things in the world. They like to sing, write songs and think that having fun is the purest form of art. They work primarily as a poet and youth worker. When they’re not writing they can be found in the ocean.

Kelsi Stroud
(She/They)

Programme Director Pōneke

Kelsi had been a part of the Pōneke team for 5 windy winters and is now Kaiārahi of the region. In their spare time Kelsi plays punk music with their friends and performs as much as possible.  

Nicole Gaffney
(She/Her)

Treasurer & Programme Director Te Papaioea

Nicole Gaffney has been a part of Girls Rock since its inception and has been a coordinator and mentor in Aotearoa and Australia. She is a registered teacher and part time youth worker. She is based in Whanganui with her dog Remi, supporting the lower North Island To the Front programmes in Wellington and Palmerston North. Nicole has been playing music since she was a tween and has DIY toured around the world playing music.

Leea Lamatoa

Programme Director Tāmaki Makaurau

Leea is a passionate musician and songwriter with particular interest in the weird and wonderful things the voice can do and helps others to explore their own voice across Tāmaki Makaurau. Leea has been involved in Girls rock since 2019 as a mentor, organiser coordinator and is now the Kaiarahi for To The Front Tāmaki Makaurau. When she is not making music, you can find her playing arcade games and patting neighbourhood cats.

ANNUAL RETURNS

We've had a fantastic year at Girls Rock Aotearoa with our To the Front and Pathways programmes.

Check out our Annual Return for the year end 31 March 2025 to learn all about what we do at Girls Rock Aotearoa!

Girls Rock Aotearoa have been selected as the Tier 3 winners for the 2025 New Zealand For Purpose Reporting Awards.

The Awards, organised by Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ), celebrate best practice in adopting accounting standards which provide greater transparency and consistency in reporting across the sector.