Te Hapori Matihiko is proud to announce the winners of Ngā Tohu Matihiko 2025, honouring the leaders, creators and disruptors shaping the future of digital and technology in Aotearoa and across the world.
Held on 12 Pipiri 2025 in Ōtautahi, the event brought together a powerful and diverse collective of Māori innovators, from climate tech pioneers and data sovereignty advocates to creative technologists and policy disruptors. Across twelve categories, the awards acknowledged both Tōtara (established leaders) and Tipu (emerging talent), each showing the depth and range of Māori excellence in te ao matihiko.
“Ngā Tohu Matihiko is about making space for Māori excellence in tech. It’s about systems change, and it’s about showing our people that they belong, they are valued, and they lead.”
— Katie Brown
Co-Founder and CEO
Te Hapori Matihiko
This year’s recipients included Mike Taitoko, recognised for his leadership in environmental tech innovation. Grounded in kaupapa Māori, his work empowers whānau to protect and regenerate te taiao through collective, data-driven solutions.
“…seven and a half thousand species that are at risk of extinction…
I hold this tohu up for not us, but the people out there right now who are trying to save these species and trying to save our ngahere and trying to save our whānau. It is for them.”
— Mike Taitoko (Ngāti Maniapoto)
Tōtara Award Winner – Kaitiaki o te Taiao
Award winner Dan Te Whenua Walker echoed the call for systems that reflect Māori values.
“We have a responsibility to make space for our whānau, to create digital systems that reflect who we are and uplift our communities.”
— Dan Te Whenua Walker (Ngāti Ruanui, Ngā Ruahinerangi, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa, Tūhourangi, Maniapoto, Manuhiakai, Tangahoe)
Tōtara Award Winner – Rangatiratanga
Jahminique Grace, who received the Tipu Award for Public Sector, grounded this kaupapa in lived experience and community transformation.
“Real transformation starts with the people. It starts with the whenua. It starts when we centre whānau voice and when we honour lived experience as the compass, as the navigator to transform our health system.”
— Jahminique Grace (Ngāti Porou)
Tipu Award Winner – Public Sector
Miriana Lowrie, who leads globally in cyber innovation, called forward the next generation.
“To all our rangatahi, wāhine Māori, and those carving out space in tech – your voice matters, your ideas matter, and you absolutely belong in this world.”
— Miriana Lowrie (Ngā Rauru Kītahi)
Tōtara Award Winner – Whiua ki te Ao
The 2025 Daniel Karehana Scholarship recipient Lucas Bawden brought a future-facing message:
“I want to use tech to tell our stories, to build things that make life better for our people and help us stay connected to who we are.”
— Lucas Bawden
Daniel Karehana Scholarship Recipient
Ngā Tohu Matihiko 2025 Award Recipients
(Tōtara: Established leaders, Tipu: Emerging leaders)
Corporate Change
Tipu: Kat Falepau (Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, Waikato Tainui)
Tōtara: Ernestynne Walsh (Ngāti Porou, Te Whānau a Apanui)
Innovator/Auahatanga
Tipu: Nicole Retter (Muaūpoko)
Tōtara: Amber Craig (Ngāti Kahungunu, Rangitāne, Muaūpoko, Ngāi Tara)
Pakihi
Tipu: Cloverbase
Tōtara: Te Matatini Enterprises
Kaiāwhina
Tipu: Ta’ase Vaoga (Ngāpuhi, Te Ātihaunui-a-Papārangi and Hāmoa)
Tōtara: Moko Templeton (Waikato, Ngāranui)
Public Sector
Tipu: Jahminique Grace (Ngāti Porou)
Tōtara: Sonny Tatahau Taite (Ngāi Te Rangi)
Kaitiaki o te Taiao
Tipu: Ratu Mataira (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu)
Tōtara: Mike Taitoko (Ngāti Maniapoto)
Whiua ki te Ao
Tipu: Gloria Ewe (Mātāwaka)
Tōtara: Miriana Lowrie (Ngā Rauru Kītahi)
Rangatiratanga
Tipu: Arahi Hippolite (Ngāti Koata, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Ngāti Kuia, Kāi Tahu)
Tōtara: Dan Te Whenua Walker (Ngāti Ruanui, Ngā Ruahinerangi, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa, Tūhourangi, Maniapoto, Manuhiakai, Tangahoe)
Daniel Karehana Memorial Scholarship
2025 Recipient: Lucas Bawden (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Te Pou)
Kaupapa
Tipu: M.A.T.C.H,
Tōtara: Digital Natives Academy
Change-Maker
Tipu: Kātene Durie-Doherty (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kauwhata, Kāi Tahu, Rongowhakaata, Rangitāne, Ngāti Raukawa)
Tōtara: Jordan Koziol-Repia (Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Iwi o Rakaipaaka)
Emergent Icon
Winner: Léon Bristow (Ngāpuhi)
Living Icon
Winner: Te Taka Keegan (Waikato-Maniapoto, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Whakaue)
These recipients are part of a growing movement. Ngā Tohu Matihiko continues to celebrate Māori who are shaping digital futures grounded in identity, community, and excellence.
Ngā Tohu Matihiko is a reflection something far greater than a celebration. It speaks to visibility, transformation and whakapapa. As technology continues to shape our world, Māori are not just taking part. We are at the forefront. These awards honour those creating digital pathways where our whānau, values and futures can flourish.
