Dr Karaitiana Taiuru is a Māori AI and digital-governance expert specialising in Māori Data Sovereignty, AI governance, tikanga Māori, mātauranga Māori, algorithmic bias and Indigenous intellectual property in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Taiuru & Associates advises boards, government agencies, iwi, Māori organisations, universities and technology companies on the governance, risks and rights implications of AI and emerging technologies.
Our work helps organisations make confident decisions about AI and digital systems that are grounded in practical risk management, legal compliance, and real-world operational delivery. We translate complex technical issues, AI models, data pipelines, cloud platforms, automated decisions into clear governance decisions and risk trade-offs. Our outputs are designed to be used: frameworks, templates, briefings, decision gates, and measurable controls.
What we do
- AI governance and responsible AI Board-grade advice on AI risk, accountability, and deployment.
- Māori Data Sovereignty and data governance Operationalising Māori authority over data relating to Māori people, communities, knowledge, and taonga.
- Māori rights in digital and AI systems Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations, tikanga Māori, and cultural risk in algorithmic and AI contexts.
- Emerging technology risk Assessing cultural, ethical, and social risks from robotics, IoT, biotechnology, and other emerging technologies.
- Critical Indigenous research Research services grounded in kaupapa Māori and Indigenous methodologies.
- Intellectual property, mātauranga Māori, and cultural risk Protecting Māori knowledge, cultural IP, and data in technology and research contexts.
Why organisations work with us
Taiuru & Associates brings a rare combination: emerging technology governance expertise alongside deep understanding of Māori rights, tikanga, and cultural risk in digital environments. We provide independent advice focused on reducing risk, improving capability, and helping organisations deliver outcomes that are lawful, ethical, and trusted. We do not sell software. Our work is designed to be useful, implementable, and measurable, so organisations can move beyond policy statements and embed good governance into technology programmes.
About Dr Karaitiana Taiuru JP, MInstD.
Primary iwi affiliations: Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Toa.
Dr Karaitiana Taiuru is a Māori expert and adviser on artificial intelligence, Māori Data Sovereignty, tikanga Māori, mātauranga Māori, digital governance, algorithmic bias, and Indigenous intellectual property. He holds a PhD in Indigenous Studies from Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi and is a Justice of the Peace (JP) and a Member of the Institute of Directors (MInstD).
Dr Taiuru’s work focuses on the intersection of tikanga Māori, mātauranga Māori, and emerging digital technologies. He advises organisations on the ethical, governance, and rights-based issues that arise when AI, data systems, and emerging technologies interact with Māori rights and Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations. His expertise spans AI ethics, Māori Data Sovereignty, digital governance, algorithmic bias, digital identity, and Māori intellectual property.
He is known for his involvement with the AI Forum Kāhui Māori and the Institute of AI Governance, and for his contributions to national and international conversations on Indigenous rights in the digital age. His research examines how Māori communities can exercise authority, control, and benefit over data, AI systems, and emerging technologies from cultural appropriation in algorithm design to the risks and opportunities AI presents for all communities.
Whether working with policy leaders, product designers, or technical leadership, Dr Taiuru challenges organisations to think more critically and inclusively about the technologies they build and deploy.