We spent some time at mahi with Shairae Taepa (Ngāti Whakaue, Te Ati Awa, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairarapa, Ngai Tūhoe, Ngāti Porou), he Kaipūkaha Tāhiko (Electronics Engineer) who works at Peek Robotics. She’s building robots and showing what’s possible for wāhine Māori in tech, relating her mātauranga Māori to her complex mahi – all while hapū too!
Shairae’s mahi is unique: she builds robots like Grover, a machine designed to assist in papawaina (vineyards) and uru huarākau (orchards), offering innovative solutions to the agricultural industry. Grover has some slick moves too – it can even understand commands in te reo Māori. “Kia tau!” and “Haere mai!” she said to the karetao (robot), which whirred back and forth in response.
Shairae’s journey into tech came with its challenges. “When I started in this foreign field, not knowing anything about engineering, calculus, or physics – it was quite daunting,” she shares. Despite these initial hurdles, she knew she was an innovator at heart. “I knew I was a tutu,” she says, referencing her knack for creating and tinkering with anything she could get her hands on.
For Shairae, working in robotics isn’t just about pushing technological boundaries; it’s also about staying connected to her tūpuna. “In terms of technology or in this robotics space, I’d like us to be authentically us as well as being super modern and advanced in this world,” she explains. By drawing on mātauranga Māori, she finds comfort and grounding in a field that can sometimes feel foreign. “We would go out into the ngāhere (forest), pick a rākau (tree), bring it back, and carve it into a waka,” she reflects, blending the old with the new to navigate the world of robotics.
Shairae is not just building robots – she’s building a future where te ao Māori and tech innovation coexist harmoniously. Through her mahi at Peek Robotics, she’s proving that wāhine Māori have a place in these advanced fields, creating space for others to follow. Her message to wāhine Māori is clear: “Ki ōku wāhine Māori, me whai mai i tēnei ara, he ara mō tātou kātoa.” – To my Māori women, follow this path, it’s a path for everyone.
And her final encouragement? “Mēnā ka taea ahau, ka taea koe!” – If I can do it, so can you!
