Dr Karaitiana Taiuru has published original 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.
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.
Artificial intelligence and robotics
6 Te Tiriti Based Artificial Intelligence Ethical Principles (2023)
Six principles for any AI system that uses, produces or makes decisions about Māori data: 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/
Read the 6 Te Tiriti Based AI Ethical Principles →
He Tangata, He Karetao, He Ātārangi: Kaupapa Māori AI Framework (2026)
A kaupapa Māori framework that describes AI as a person, a puppet and a shadow. It explains why accountability for AI is easily diffused, and why the system itself can never be the party held to account.
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/
Read He Tangata, He Karetao, He Ātārangi →
Māori AI Sovereignty Principles (2025)
A localised version of international Indigenous AI sovereignty principles, 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/
Read the Māori AI Sovereignty Principles →
Treaty of Waitangi/Te Tiriti and Māori Ethics Guidelines for AI, Algorithms, Data and IOT (2020)
One of the first guidelines in Aotearoa to apply Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Māori ethics to artificial intelligence, algorithms, data and the Internet of Things.
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/
Read the Te Tiriti and Māori Ethics Guidelines →
Te Tiriti o Waitangi Principles for Robotics (2023)
Principles for robotics researchers and industry, 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/
Read the Te Tiriti o Waitangi Principles for Robotics →
Māori Data Sovereignty
Māori Data Sovereignty Principles (2022)
The consolidated and current source for Dr Taiuru’s 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/
Read the Māori Data Sovereignty Principles →
Kaitiakitanga Māori Data Sovereignty Licences (2021)
Six licences 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/
Read the Kaitiakitanga Licences →
Hapū and Marae Data Sovereignty Datasets (2021)
Open datasets of iwi, hapū and marae names, 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/
- Taiuru, K. (2021). Marae data sovereignty data sets [Data set]. Taiuru & Associates Ltd. https://www.taiuru.co.nz/marae-data-sovereignty/
Hapū dataset → · Marae datasets →
Data is a Taonga: A Customary Māori Perspective (2018)
The foundational paper explaining, 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/
Digital identity, biometrics and genetics
Principles for Digital Identity (2026)
Principles 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/
Read the Principles for Digital Identity →
Tikanga Tawhito, Tikanga Hou: Guidelines for DNA Research and Storage (2022)
Bioethics guidelines for researching and storing Māori genetic samples. Supporting literature reviews are available 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-guidelines-for-dna-research-storage/
Templates and practical tools
AI and Generative AI Policy Template for Education (2025)
A New Zealand-specific AI policy template 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/
Get the education policy template →
Gen AI for Ethical Use of Mātauranga Statement (2025)
A statement 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/
Get the mātauranga statement →
AI Disclaimers (2025)
Guidance and wording 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/
Māori-led Framework for Data Centre Development (2026)
A proposed framework 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)
A framework explaining why there is no single “Māori opinion”, building on the work of Sir Mason Durie.
Suggested citation: Taiuru, K. (2024). Māori opinions and views framework. Taiuru & Associates Ltd. https://www.taiuru.co.nz/maori-opinions-and-views-framework/
Read the Māori Opinions and Views Framework →
Consumer Guidelines for Māori Non-Fungible Tokens (2022)
Guidance for consumers on 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/
Frequently asked questions
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.
How do I cite this page?
Taiuru, K. (2026). Original frameworks. Taiuru & Associates Ltd. https://www.taiuru.co.nz/original-frameworks/