with Dr Karaitiana Taiuru
New Zealand case studies of AI and Data implemented projects that either ignore or discriminate Māori due to lack of engagement.
Ticking the Box: What an OIA Release Shows About Māori Expertise in Government AI Guidance A case study on the Ministry for Regulation’s 2026 guidance for regulators using artificial intelligence Sumamry In May 2026, the Ministry for Regulation (Te Manatū Waeture) published guidance for regulators on using artificial intelligence (AI). Before publishing, the Ministry paid … Read more
Māori are named in only about a third of New Zealand news stories about Artificial Intelligence (AI). Māori are talked about, but rarely heard. When you count who is quoted, Māori technology, rights and data sovereignty voices make up just 3% of media articles. This creates an issue where Māori societal harms, opportunities and benefits … Read more
Voyager Broadband‘s (Actrix Networks, 1st Domains / Affordable Domains / Register Direct) latest advertisement (via RNZ) shows two Māori/Pacific men, one of whom is attacking a Pākehā man by having him in a chocker hold on the floor, after their internet drops out during a UFC match on the television. The advert was made with … Read more
This week Google Maps began rolling out a New Zealand voice that pronounces te reo Māori place names correctly. Place name Whangārei with the soft “f” sound from an New Zealand dialect, Taupō with the long vowel, Karangahape Road spoken as it was named by our tūpuna, not as decades of navigation systems and generations … Read more
For the first time, the rohe of Te Taura Ora o Waiāriki (Te Arawa IMPB) will have access to a dashboard built from data specific to their people recognising mana motuhake and Māori data sovereignty. . This is a powerful shift in how Māori health realities are identified, acted upon and governed. Traditionally, health-data relevant … Read more
This report examines the current landscape of Māori data sovereignty and governance in New Zealand. The research, conducted over 12 months, underscores the critical importance of Māori data sovereignty in the age of artificial intelligence (AI) to prevent bias and uphold Māori rights. A key finding reveals a significant disparity between established Māori data governance frameworks and … Read more
The AI Forum released their third “BI-ANNUAL SNAPSHOT AI IN ACTION Exploring the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on New Zealand’s Productivity“. This is the second consecutive time Māori and the first time Pacific Peoples are included. The report recognises that 44% of New Zealanders believe the benefits of AI outweigh the risks, and concerns are … Read more
According to their media release, the Writer’s Toolbox is a New Zealand and Australian education company. They provide an educational writing programme, powered by patented AI, designed to help students master writing. It is having a serious impact on Māori students’ literacy achievements. After using Writer’s Toolbox [using a locally-built AI], Thornton School [Decile 5, … Read more
This is an opinion piece as a Tikanga practitioner and Māori Data expert who is not a lawyer and has no formal legal training. The recent Supreme Court judgement recognises Tikanga Māori is common law and applicable in the legal system. This gives further impact and recognition to the legal status of Māori Data Sovereignty … Read more
Literature reviews of current Māori ethics and frameworks associated with research, storage and analysis of Māori DNA and biological samples
The High Court decision that the Ministry of Health must hand over Māori Data to Whānau Ora is a significant and swift stride towards Māori Data Sovereignty that has left Māori and the government exposed. Ideally, the government and academia would have been engaging with Māori groups and Iwi to recognise Māori/hapū/marae/Iwi Data Sovereignty and … Read more
As a descendant of Tūwharetoa, I have no idea if my whakapapa is being offered for sale on TradeMe, just like any other descendant of Tūwharetoa wouldn’t. I agree that the whakapapa is personal property, but not of one individual selling it, but to the whānau, hapū and Iwi that the whakapapa is about. New … Read more
The regulatory organisation of the Internet Domain Name .nz domain name space asked for feedback on their consultation. My submission considers Māori and Iwi representation and the lack of consultation in past reviews of .nz and it appears they have also been overlooked in this consultation. My feedback is based on 22 years of Māori … Read more
In 2019 the Law Commission called for public submissions regarding the Use of DNA in Criminal Investigations. This is my public submission and impacts on Māori culture and Tikanga Māori. DNA is a taonga. A DNA sample does not belong only to the person it was taken from; it carries the whakapapa of their whānau, … Read more
Law Commission is seeking public submissions on DNA with criminal cases. Submissions close: 31 March 2019. DNA is a Taonga: A Customary Māori Perspective view The aims of the consultation are to ensure that the law (Criminal Investigations (Bodily Samples) Act 1995) governing the use of DNA in criminal investigations is: Fit for purpose Constitutionally sound Accessible … Read more
BP New Zealand appears to have used Māori culture without consultation, offering Fair Trade coffee that will help you to become more fertile by placing the Polynesian recognised deity of fertility Tiki in the corner of it marketing material. Moreover, the Tiki used in the marketing appears to be a West coast of the North Island … Read more
Belgium Beer brewer Brussels Beer Project removed their offensive beer label within hours of the New Zealand media publishing concerns at the cultural appropriation. This is now the 5th craft brewer this year that has removed offensive beer labels after my complaints. This case differs from the others. In this instance the New Zealand media … Read more
HuggiesNZ a trusted brand for new parents is an example of a corporation discriminating against Māori with little or no disregard to the long term implications for individuals, cultures and laws. Their advice, if followed, could cause irreversible damage to children and parents. Huggies respond here. Prior to December 29 2008, or over 10 years prior to … Read more