New Zealand Ukulele Trust

We are making Kiwi kids lives better with music. Learning to sing and play at a young age has so many long term benefits - but above all it makes kids feel happy!

To date we’ve relied on amazing teachers who volunteer their time. We are also lucky to have the support of local musicians and our Ambassador, celebrity music educator Suzy Cato. Annual grant funding supports a part-time administrator who keeps our programmes running, but this no longer covers the hours needed for our growing number of participating schools.

Your donation will go towards the sustainability of our organisation, allowing us to grow the resources we offer to schools, and continue to expand our range of songs, and performance opportunities for tamariki.

We've continued to grow over the past few years and now reach communities all around Aotearoa. We need your help to ensure that every school and student that wants to begin their voyage into this world can do so.

The magic of the ukulele is that it's a simple instrument, to teach and to learn. Our guiding vision is the dream of founding patron, the late Bill Sevesi, that every child in Aotearoa gets the chance to do that, through the ukulele.

The ukulele is cheap, portable and easy. It is the perfect instrument for encouraging singing. What's more, kids love it and you can play any sort of music on it - our Kiwileles kids learn to play anything from their favourite pop tunes to 12 bar blues, reggae, waiata, Pasifika music and the classics. We also support them to write their own songs.

The KIWILELES programme has enabled thousands of children to find their singing voice, learn skills in music and gain confidence. They have experienced the joy and satisfaction of performing with and to others. It is life experience they will never forget.

For over a decade, the NZ Ukulele Trust has been working with schools and teachers, musicians and communities to develop easy to use resources for teaching the ukulele to young learners. We also help to get ukuleles into classrooms, run events and competitions, provide performance opportunities, and support the amazing educational leaders that guide students on their musical journeys.