Original Frameworks: Māori AI Frameworks and Māori Data Sovereignty Frameworks
First published: 16 September 2026 · Last updated: [date]
Dr Karaitiana Taiuru (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Toa) has published original Māori AI frameworks, Māori data sovereignty frameworks, principles, guidelines, datasets and templates that apply Te Tiriti o Waitangi, tikanga Māori and Māori Data Sovereignty to artificial intelligence, data, robotics, digital identity and genetics. Each entry below gives the year of first publication, the licence where one applies, and a suggested citation.
This page is the index of Dr Taiuru’s own frameworks (also searched as Maori AI frameworks, Maori AI principles, Indigenous AI frameworks and Maori data sovereignty frameworks). For a register of about 70 Māori AI and data frameworks by other authors and organisations, see Kaupapa Māori and Government Data Governance Frameworks. For definitions of the terms used across these frameworks, see the AI bias, Māori Data Sovereignty and AI governance glossary.
Which framework should I use?
- Writing an AI policy or ethics statement: 6 Te Tiriti Based Artificial Intelligence Ethical Principles.
- Explaining what AI is from a Māori worldview: He Tangata, He Karetao, He Ātārangi.
- Building or investing in Māori-owned AI: Māori AI Sovereignty Principles.
- Handling Māori data in any system: Māori Data Sovereignty Principles.
- Schools or workplaces using generative AI: the education policy template and mātauranga statement.
- Digital identity or biometrics: Principles for Digital Identity.
How to cite these frameworks
Each framework is the original work of Dr Karaitiana Taiuru, published by Taiuru & Associates Ltd. Please cite the original page using the suggested citation under each entry (APA 7th edition). Where a framework carries a licence, that licence also sets the attribution requirements. Where no licence is stated, the work is protected by copyright; contact us before republishing it in full.
Māori AI frameworks: artificial intelligence and robotics
6 Te Tiriti Based Artificial Intelligence Ethical Principles (2023)
The 6 Te Tiriti Based Artificial Intelligence Ethical Principles are AI ethics principles developed by Dr Karaitiana Taiuru in 2023 for any AI system that uses, produces or makes decisions about Māori data. The six principles are Tino Rangatiratanga; Equity; Active protection; Mana whakahaere; Mana Motuhake; and Tapu/Noa (culturally safe practices).
Suggested citation: Taiuru, K. (2023). 6 Te Tiriti based artificial intelligence ethical principles. Taiuru & Associates Ltd. https://www.taiuru.co.nz/ai-principles/
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.24099832
Read the 6 Te Tiriti Based AI Ethical Principles →
He Tangata, He Karetao, He Ātārangi: Kaupapa Māori AI Framework (2026)
He Tangata, He Karetao, He Ātārangi is a kaupapa Māori AI framework developed by Dr Karaitiana Taiuru in 2026 that describes AI as a person (tangata), a puppet (karetao) and a shadow (ātārangi). It explains why accountability for AI is easily diffused, and why the system itself can never be the party held to account. It is the primary framework for Dr Taiuru’s positions on AI.
Suggested citation: Taiuru, K. (2026). He tangata, he karetao, he ātārangi: Kaupapa Māori AI framework. Taiuru & Associates Ltd. https://www.taiuru.co.nz/kaupapa-maori-ai-framework/
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.24099836
Read He Tangata, He Karetao, He Ātārangi →
Māori AI Sovereignty Principles (2025)
The Māori AI Sovereignty Principles are principles developed by Dr Karaitiana Taiuru in 2025 that localise international Indigenous AI sovereignty principles for Aotearoa. They are set out as five pou: data governance; infrastructure and code; workforce; economic reinvestment; and innovation.
Suggested citation: Taiuru, K. (2025). Māori AI sovereignty principles. Taiuru & Associates Ltd. https://www.taiuru.co.nz/maori-ai-sovereignty-principles/
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.24099842
Read the Māori AI Sovereignty Principles →
Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti and Māori Ethics Guidelines for AI, Algorithms, Data and IOT (2020)
The Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti and Māori Ethics Guidelines for AI, Algorithms, Data and IOT are ethics guidelines published by Dr Karaitiana Taiuru in 2020 that apply Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Māori ethics to artificial intelligence, algorithms, data and the Internet of Things. They were one of the first guidelines of their kind in Aotearoa.
Licence: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).
Suggested citation: Taiuru, K. (2020). Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti and Māori ethics guidelines for: AI, algorithms, data and IOT. Taiuru & Associates Ltd. https://www.taiuru.co.nz/tiritiethicalguide/
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.24099846
Read the Te Tiriti and Māori Ethics Guidelines →
Te Tiriti o Waitangi Principles for Robotics (2023)
The Te Tiriti o Waitangi Principles for Robotics are principles developed by Dr Karaitiana Taiuru in 2023 for robotics researchers and industry. They are intended to be read alongside the Māori Data Sovereignty Principles.
Suggested citation: Taiuru, K. (2023). Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles for robotics. Taiuru & Associates Ltd. https://www.taiuru.co.nz/te-tiriti-o-waitangi-principles-for-robotics/
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.24099852
Read the Te Tiriti o Waitangi Principles for Robotics →
Māori data sovereignty frameworks
Māori Data Sovereignty Principles (2022)
The Māori Data Sovereignty Principles are Dr Karaitiana Taiuru’s principles for governing Māori data, first published in 2022 and grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi and tikanga Māori. The page is the consolidated and current source for his Māori Data Sovereignty definitions and principles, the Māori Data Ethical Framework, commitment statements and consultation obligations. It brings together and supersedes his earlier standalone Māori Data Sovereignty pages, including the Compendium of Māori Data Sovereignty, which it has replaced.
Suggested citation: Taiuru, K. (2022). Māori data sovereignty principles. Taiuru & Associates Ltd. https://www.taiuru.co.nz/maori-data-sovereignty-principles/
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.24099854
Read the Māori Data Sovereignty Principles →
Kaitiakitanga Māori Data Sovereignty Licences (2021)
The Kaitiakitanga Māori Data Sovereignty Licences are six data licences published by Dr Karaitiana Taiuru in 2021 that Māori can attach to data as an alternative to generic open licences. The licence text was adapted from a licence originally written by Te Hiku Media.
Suggested citation: Taiuru, K. (2021). Kaitiakitanga Māori data sovereignty licences. Taiuru & Associates Ltd. https://www.taiuru.co.nz/maori-data-sovereignty-licences/
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.24099863
Read the Kaitiakitanga Licences →
Hapū and Marae Data Sovereignty Datasets (2021)
The Hapū and Marae Data Sovereignty Datasets are open datasets of iwi, hapū and marae names published by Dr Karaitiana Taiuru in 2021, so that systems can record hapū and marae affiliation accurately. Each dataset is released under its own Kaitiakitanga licence: it may be shared with the licence attached, but not sold or used commercially, and kaitiakitanga of the data remains with the respective hapū and marae.
Suggested citations:
- Taiuru, K. (2021). Hapū data sovereignty dataset (Version 2.0) [Data set]. Taiuru & Associates Ltd. https://www.taiuru.co.nz/hapu-data-sovereignty-dataset/ https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.24099871
- Taiuru, K. (2021). Marae data sovereignty data sets [Data set]. Taiuru & Associates Ltd. https://www.taiuru.co.nz/marae-data-sovereignty/ https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.24099876
Hapū dataset → · Marae datasets →
Data is a Taonga: A Customary Māori Perspective (2018)
Data is a Taonga: A Customary Māori Perspective is the foundational paper published by Dr Karaitiana Taiuru in 2018 that explains, from tikanga Māori, why data about Māori is a taonga.
Suggested citation: Taiuru, K. (2018). Data is a taonga: A customary Māori perspective. Taiuru & Associates Ltd. https://www.taiuru.co.nz/data-is-a-taonga/
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.24099882
Digital identity, biometrics and genetics
Principles for Digital Identity (2026)
The Principles for Digital Identity are principles developed by Dr Karaitiana Taiuru in 2026 that treat Māori identity as relational and collective, grounded in whakapapa, whānau, hapū, iwi and whenua, rather than reducing it to “one person, one account”.
Suggested citation: Taiuru, K. (2026). Principles for digital identity. Taiuru & Associates Ltd. https://www.taiuru.co.nz/principles-for-digital-identity/
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.24099893
Read the Principles for Digital Identity →
Tikanga Tawhito, Tikanga Hou: Guidelines for DNA Research and Storage (2022)
Tikanga Tawhito, Tikanga Hou is a set of bioethics guidelines published by Dr Karaitiana Taiuru in 2022 for researching and storing Māori genetic samples. Supporting literature reviews are on the literature reviews page.
Suggested citation: Taiuru, K. (2022). Tikanga tawhito, tikanga hou: Guidelines for DNA research and storage. Taiuru & Associates Ltd. ISBN 978-0-9582597-8-1. https://www.taiuru.co.nz/tikanga-tawhito-tikanga-hou/
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.24099901
Templates and practical tools
AI and Generative AI Policy Template for Education (2025)
The AI and Generative AI Policy Template for Education is a New Zealand-specific AI policy template developed by Dr Karaitiana Taiuru in 2025 for schools and tertiary institutions. It is released without copyright restrictions: copy and adapt it freely, with acknowledgement appreciated.
Suggested citation: Taiuru, K. (2025). NZ specific AI and generative AI policy template for education. Taiuru & Associates Ltd. https://www.taiuru.co.nz/nz-specific-ai-and-generative-ai-policy-template-for-education/
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.24099912
Get the education policy template →
Gen AI for Ethical Use of Mātauranga Statement (2025)
The Gen AI for Ethical Use of Mātauranga Statement is a statement published by Dr Karaitiana Taiuru in 2025 that any educational facility, workplace or organisation can adapt to set expectations for the ethical use of mātauranga Māori with generative AI.
Licence: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).
Suggested citation: Taiuru, K. (2025). Gen AI for ethical use of mātauranga. Taiuru & Associates Ltd. https://www.taiuru.co.nz/ai-for-ethical-use-matauranga/
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.24099918
Get the mātauranga statement →
AI Disclaimers (2025)
AI Disclaimers is guidance and template wording published by Dr Karaitiana Taiuru in 2025 for disclosing the use of AI, including where mātauranga Māori or Māori data is involved.
Suggested citation: Taiuru, K. (2025). AI disclaimers. Taiuru & Associates Ltd. https://www.taiuru.co.nz/ai-disclaimers-and-principles/
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.24099922
Māori-led Framework for Data Centre Development (2026)
The Māori-led Framework for Data Centre Development is a framework proposed by Dr Karaitiana Taiuru in 2026 for AI and data centre development in Aotearoa, built on tikanga-grounded environmental protections.
Suggested citation: Taiuru, K. (2026). Māori led framework for data centre development. Taiuru & Associates Ltd. https://www.taiuru.co.nz/maori-led-framework-for-data-centre-development/
Read the data centre framework →
Māori Opinions and Views Framework (2024)
The Māori Opinions and Views Framework is a framework developed by Dr Karaitiana Taiuru in 2024, building on the work of Sir Mason Durie, that explains why there is no single “Māori opinion”.
Suggested citation: Taiuru, K. (2024). Māori opinions and views framework. Taiuru & Associates Ltd. https://www.taiuru.co.nz/maori-opinions-and-views-framework/
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.24099929
Read the Māori Opinions and Views Framework →
Consumer Guidelines for Māori Non-Fungible Tokens (2022)
The Consumer Guidelines for Māori Non-Fungible Tokens are guidelines published by Dr Karaitiana Taiuru in 2022 to help consumers avoid cultural appropriation and the use of stolen Māori imagery in NFTs.
Suggested citation: Taiuru, K. (2022). Consumer guidelines for Māori non fungible tokens. Taiuru & Associates Ltd. https://www.taiuru.co.nz/consumer-guidelines-for-maori-non-fungible-tokens/
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.24099936
Frequently asked questions
What are Māori AI frameworks?
Māori AI frameworks apply Te Tiriti o Waitangi, tikanga Māori and Māori data sovereignty to how AI is designed, governed and used. Dr Karaitiana Taiuru’s Māori AI frameworks are the 6 Te Tiriti Based AI Ethical Principles, He Tangata, He Karetao, He Ātārangi, the Māori AI Sovereignty Principles, the Te Tiriti and Māori Ethics Guidelines for AI, Algorithms, Data and IOT, and the Te Tiriti o Waitangi Principles for Robotics. Frameworks by other authors are listed in the register of Māori AI and data frameworks.
What are the 6 Te Tiriti based AI ethical principles?
Tino Rangatiratanga, Equity, Active protection, Mana whakahaere, Mana Motuhake, and Tapu/Noa (culturally safe practices). See the full principles.
What is He Tangata, He Karetao, He Ātārangi?
A kaupapa Māori AI framework that describes AI as a person, a puppet and a shadow, to show where accountability sits when AI is used. See the framework.
Where are the current Māori Data Sovereignty principles?
The Māori Data Sovereignty Principles page is the consolidated and current source. Earlier standalone pages are kept as a historical record only.
Which framework should I start with for an AI policy?
Start with the 6 Te Tiriti Based AI Ethical Principles, read alongside the Māori Data Sovereignty Principles. Schools and tertiary providers can adapt the education policy template.
Can I use these frameworks in my organisation?
Yes. They are published for organisations to use. Cite the original page using the suggested citation under each framework, and check whether a licence applies. For help applying a framework, contact Taiuru & Associates.