Great question! We love that you want to give a thoughtful koha. Here's what you should know:
When schools and social services register the children they'd like matched with donors, they do their best to share details like age, gender, and interests. Not all organisations are able to gather this information.
The information available varies depending on what the school or social service was able to share. You might see:
Detailed interests – like "loves drawing," "into sports," or "learning about dinosaurs"
Favourite colours or activities
General age-appropriate details that help you get to know them a bit
Not all organisations can gather this level of detail, but they always try their best to give you helpful insights. Sometimes you'll just have age and gender to go on—and that's okay!
When you've been matched with a child, their information is right there on your match dashboard. Here's how to find it:
Log in to your Koha Tree account
Go to "My Matches" or your dashboard
Select the child you've been matched with
Scroll to the "Other Information" section – this is where any interests, hobbies, or preferences shared by the school or organisation will appear
Koha Tree - 1 November 2025 - Watch Video
Ka runga rawa atu koe (You're awesome!) for wanting to get something they'll love. But here's the thing—those interests are just a helpful guide, not a checklist you need to follow exactly.
You're not expected to source the exact items listed. Think of it as a hint about what kind of koha might bring a smile to their face. If you can use those interests to inspire your gift, amazing! If not, that's totally fine too.
Use the interests as inspiration, not rules
Remember they're just getting to know the child too
Trust your instincts about what would make a meaningful koha
Know that whatever you choose will be appreciated
The most important thing is that you're bringing aroha (love and compassion) to your gift-giving. That's what makes it special.
Need help choosing? Ask our community in the Facebook group here:
