Starfish Social Services is a not-for-profit, community centred youth and family service, based in the heart of the Matamata community.

With a holistic approach, we support tamariki, rangatahi and whānau within the Matamata–Piako and South Waikato districts, through youth leadership and development, counselling, social work, education, mentoring, life skills programmes, family harm prevention, suicide prevention and much more.

Often the first point of contact for community health and well-being referrals, Starfish provides wrap-around services to people of all ages to create opportunity for change, strengthen relationships and improve outcomes for young people and their whanau.

​We are a dedicated mobile team, physically located in the heart of Matamata, that travels throughout the district, working collaboratively with Te Hauora o Ngati Haua, Morrinsville Community House, and local schools. We are supported by a vibrant local community, the Ministries of Social Development, Youth Development, the Ministry of Education and some incredible trusts that enable our work to continue.

We have a long history of supporting the very diverse youth communities of the district through youth leadership and development, event planning, counselling and/or social work, education, or assisting with financial supports and workplace options.  Life skills programmes for young people are regularly run to help  those with less resources than they should have.