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View the Indigenous Tech Summit Programme

+ More speakers and panellists to be added.

We will provide more information about their kōrero in the coming weeks.

Programme subject to change.


Hōtaka

Main Programme

The main stage in the Plenary Hall.

Day 1: Te Pae Tata

Vision, leadership and sovereignty. The day opens with whakatau and karakia, followed by keynotes from local and international speakers and panel discussions.

TIME Kaikōrero (Speaker/Panel)
9am: Open Summit - opening karakia and mihimihi
9.30am - 10am: Keynote Speaker (Global): Dr Desi Small-Rodriguez (Northern Cheyenne Nation), Social Demographer & Data Warrior.
10.05am - 10.35am: Keynote Speaker: Professor Te Taka Keegan (Waikato-Maniapoto, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Whakaue), Living Icon 2026, and the first Māori Professor of Computer Science.
10.50am - 11.40am: Panel Discussion: "Indigenous Data Sovereignty" - Kirikowhai Mikaere, Daniel Wilson, Ivan Tava & Aleisha Amohia. Facilitator: Manakore Rickus-Graham. [Sponsored by: Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi]
11.45am - 12.15pm: LIGHTNING TALK - HIHIKO TE UIRA: Featuring Te Hiku Media - Suzanne Duncan & Tūreiti Keith.
12.15pm - 1.15pm: LUNCH BREAK
1.20pm - 1.55pm: Keynote Speaker: Meg Smith (Ngāpuhi, Tainui, Ngāti Mahuta), Digital Strategist & AI Educator - "Speak and Be Heard: Our Voice and AI"
2.05pm - 2.55pm: Panel Discussion: "Going Global: The Waka, The Waters, The Way Forward" - Steve Renata, Teresa Pollard, Grant Straker & Tā Ian Taylor. Facilitator: Ava Williams. [Sponsored by: Ipurangi Aotearoa | InternetNZ]
3.10pm - 3.40pm: Keynote Speaker (Global): Ikaika Bishop (Kanaka Maoli · Koʻolau Poko, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi), Farmer, Ocean-Technologist & Educator. [Sponsored by: Te Kotahi Research Institute]
4pm - 4.50pm: Panel Discussion: "The AI Divide" - Ron Amosa, Erin Black, Kris Dempster-Rivett & Sakura Kawakami Potaka-Dewes. Facilitator: Lee Timutimu.
5pm: Close Day 1: Closing remarks

Day 2: Te Pae Tawhiti

Enterprise and innovation. Venture networking, demos, and lightning talks on the expo floor, closing with poroporoaki.

TIME Kaikōrero (Speaker/Panel)
OPENING 9am: Opening karakia
9.15am - 9.45am: Keynote Speaker (Global): Dr Randon R Taylor (Africa, United States ), Sociologist | AI & Emerging Technologies.
9.50am - 10.40am: Panel Discussion: "AI Ethics & Governance" - Ernestynne Walsh, Dr Karaitiana Taiuru, Amber Taylor, Tracey Savelio. Facilitator: Dan Te Whenua Walker. [Sponsored by: Te Puna Ora O Mataatua]
10.55am - 11.25am: Keynote Speaker (Global) Lisa Sarago (Bundaburra Yidinji/Western Yalanji), CEO of Land on Heart Foundation. [Sponsored by: Datacom]
11.45am - 12.15pm: LIGHTNING TALK - HIHIKO TE UIRA: Featuring Te Taura Whiri i te reo Māori - Ngahiwi Apanui-Barr.
12.15pm - 1.15pm: LUNCH BREAK
1.20pm - 1.50pm: Keynote Speaker: Mike Taitoko (Ngāti Maniapoto), Māori tech entrepreneur, environmental strategist, and systems-change leader.
2pm - 2.50pm: Panel Discussion: "The Future of Work" - Nathan Taukiri-Bryant, Shanon O'Connor, Pera Barrett, Julia Pahina. Facilitator: Kris Dempster-Rivett. [Sponsored by: academyEX]
3pm - 3.40pm: TIPU TALKS: Featuring our Tipu Leaders (short-format keynote) - Jahminique Chivers, Léon Bristow & Nicole Retter.
3.55pm - 4.50pm: Final Panel Discussion of the summit - "TE PAE TAWHITI" - bringing together our Rangatahi and Totara speakers. Rangatahi confirmed: 3 TBC. Totara confirmed: Sonny Taite, Amber Craig + 1 TBC.
5.15pm: Close Summit - closing remarks

Workshop Programme

Workshop delivery programme in the Matiu Breakout Room.

Day 1: Te Pae Tata

# TIME Workshop & Presenter
1 10am - 11am: “Who Gets to Imagine the Future? Ancestral Wayfinding and Digital Guardianship.”, Presented by: Amokura Panoho - representing Netsafe | Online Safety ILG - Pou Tangata. View the abstract.
2 11.15am - 12.15pm: “Māori Maps: Digital response to an analogue future.”, Presented by: Hirini Tane, Te Pōtiki National Trust. View the abstract.
12.15pm - 1.15pm: LUNCH BREAK
3 1.15pm - 2.15pm: "Tākina Pārito: Weaving Ancestral Wisdom into Transformative Futures.", Presented by: Hinerangi Eruera Murphy, PhD Candidate, Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi. View the abstract.
4 2.30pm - 3.30pm: “Dismantling the colonial grab on our data.”, Presented by: Amber Craig, Tahetoka Limited. View the abstract.
5 3.45pm - 4.45pm: “Keep Your Brain On: Thinking Together”, Presented by: Amber Taylor, Founder of Native Sentient and UNESCO Youth for Peace 2026 participant. View the abstract.

Day 2: Te Pae Tawhiti

# TIME Workshop & Presenter
1 10am - 11am: TBA
2 11.15am - 12.15pm: “Tech & Creativity that can Drive Business, Social kaupapa and Taonga Tuku Iho.”, Presented by: Ray McKay, RUN Aotearoa. View the abstract.
12.15pm - 1.15pm: LUNCH BREAK
3 1.15pm - 2.15pm: “From Principle to Specification: Operationalising Māori Data Sovereignty in AI System Design.”, Presented by: Dr Karaitiana Taiuru, Taiuru & Associates. View the abstract.
4 2.30pm - 3.30pm: Ipurangi Aotearoa, Presented by: Ana McAllister, Ipurangi Aotearoa | InternetNZ. View the abstract.
5 3.45pm - 4.45pm: “Rangatahi Hack AI.”, Presented by: Kerwin O'Malley, Hacklab. View the abstract.

Te Pae Hiko Stage

Events and activities on the Te Pae Hiko Stage in-foyer.

Day 1: Te Pae Tata

# TIME Activity & Presenter
1 10am - 11am: ACTIVITY 1 - TBA
2 11.15am - 12.15pm: ACTIVITY 2 - TBA
12.15pm - 1.15pm: LUNCH BREAK
3 12.30pm - 1pm: Māori AI Wānanga - Draft Vision Statement. Presented by: the Māori AI Wānanga Collective.

Day 2: Te Pae Tawhiti

# TIME Activity & Presenter
1 10am - 11am: ACTIVITY 1 - TBA
2 11.15am - 12.15pm: ACTIVITY 2 - TBA
12.15pm - 1.15pm: LUNCH BREAK
3 12.30pm - 1pm: "Diamonds Don't Apologise for the Pressure: The world sees the diamond. Few know the pressure." Presented by: Namulau'ulu Nu’uali’i Eteroa Lafaele & Julia Pahina, Fibre Fale. View the abstract.
Back to Summit overview View abstracts