Te Mana o te Reo: Hangarau Matihiko, Mātauranga Tangata Whenua, me te Tiaki i ngā Kararehe (The Power of Language: Digital Technologies, Indigenous Knowledge and Caring for Animals)
As a descendant of Te Atihaunui-a-Pāpārangi through my father's whakapapa (lineage), I carry within me the sense of a deep connection to Te Awa Tupua (the Whanganui River). Although my ancestry is predominantly Pākehā (European), my Māori whakapapa shapes my identity and guides my mahi (work) with Open Paws. In this kōrero (discussion), I will explore the interwoven narratives of Te Awa Tupua, the vital role of indigenous knowledge, the transformative impact of modern technology, and the global movement toward environmental and animal protection.
Te Awa Tupua (The Whanganui River)
Te Awa Tupua is the lifeblood and identity of Te Atihaunui-a-Pāpārangi. It is not merely a waterway, but an ancestor and a source of identity and unity. As a respected member of our iwi (tribe) described, “the Whanganui River [is spoken of] as if it were an ancestor from which all Te Atihaunui-ā-Pāpārangi descend. It is an ancestral river that ensures connectedness and basic survival for all river hapū (sub-tribes).”
The river serves as a taura whiri (braided rope) that binds our past, present, and future. In this cultural tradition, the river is not only a physical entity, but also a teacher and guardian of ancestral wisdom. It embodies the mauri (life force) that sustains the land, the people, and all living things. This holistic connection between the environment and cultural identity is fundamental to whanaungatanga (interconnectedness) and kaitiakitanga (guardianship).
Te Whawhai mō te Mana o Te Awa Tupua (The Fight for the Personhood of Te Awa Tupua)
The recognition of Te Awa Tupua as a legal person was a landmark achievement in acknowledging the deep relationship between the Whanganui iwi and the river. In 1988, the Whanganui River Māori Trust Board was established to negotiate the settlement of Treaty claims. The Whanganui River Claims Settlement Bill, passed in 2017, recognized Te Awa Tupua as "an indivisible and living whole" granting it legal personhood with all corresponding rights and responsibilities. This marked a significant shift in how natural resources are viewed and managed in Aotearoa (New Zealand), reflecting a long-overdue respect for indigenous perspectives on environmental stewardship. However, this deep connection and the mauri of Te Awa Tupua face severe threats from modern practices in animal agriculture.
Te Pānga o te Mahi Ahumoana Mīraka ki Te Awa Tupua (The Impact of Dairy Farming on Te Awa Tupua)
The rapid expansion of dairy farming in Aotearoa has had a severe impact on Te Awa Tupua and other waterways. Runoff from farms, laden with nitrogen, phosphorus, and bacteria from fertilisers and animal waste, leads to nutrient overloading and degradation of ecosystems. This pollution poses a direct threat to the mauri (life force) of Te Awa Tupua, diminishing its vitality and affecting all life that relies on the river.
For Whanganui iwi, the relationship with Te Awa Tupua is based on reciprocity and respect. Industrial-scale dairy farming practices, however, conflict with these values, disrupting the natural balance central to the Māori worldview.
Choosing to live as a vegan aligns with the values of protecting and honouring Te Awa Tupua and the entire Ao Tūroa (natural world). By avoiding animal products, we actively reduce our contribution to practices that harm the river and environment. This choice embodies kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and manaakitanga (hospitality and generosity), emphasising respect for all living beings and the importance of maintaining the balance of the natural world.
While individual actions are vital, developing and utilising digital technologies that embody and promote these values can catalyse more fundamental systemic change, creating widespread benefits for both animals and the environment.
Hangarau Matihiko hei Utauta mō te Kaitiakitanga me te Manaakitanga (Digital Technologies as a Tool for Guardianship and Generosity)
Māori perspectives on technology, including AI, are grounded in principles of interconnectedness. When used appropriately, technology can enhance kaitiakitanga and manaakitanga. Research on Kaupapa Māori concept modelling shows how AI can be developed in ways that respect and incorporate Māori values.
At Open Paws, we use AI to advocate for veganism and animal rights in ways that deeply embody these principles. By developing AI tools that protect animals, we honour the Māori commitment to the well-being of the natural world, upholding the mauri of all living beings.
AI also supports manaakitanga by empowering communities to care for others, human or animal. The AI-driven initiatives at Open Paws are modern expressions of these ancient principles, contributing to a vision that honours the connections between all living things and promotes planetary well-being.
Te Whakapakari Hononga mā te Hangarau Matihiko (Strengthening Connections through Digital Technologies)
The concept of whakawhanaungatanga (making and maintaining relationships) is central to Māori values. Research into the role of Māori IT professionals highlights how integrating whakawhanaungatanga into AI design means prioritising transparency, cultural sensitivity, and inclusiveness. In AI development, this principle guides efforts to ensure that technology strengthens connections between communities and the natural world.
Incorporating whakawhanaungatanga into AI design at Open Paws reflects our commitment to recognizing the shared responsibilities we have toward each other, animals, and the environment. By developing AI with cultural sensitivity and inclusiveness, we help create a future where technology supports the whakapapa that binds us all together.
Te Arataki i ngā Hangarau Matihiko i te Mātauranga Māori (Navigating Digital Technologies with Māori Wisdom)
The intersection of AI and Māori wisdom offers a unique opportunity to reframe technology's role in society. Embedding mātauranga Māori (traditional knowledge of Māori people) into AI development can create technologies that are innovative and aligned with sustainable and ethical practices. Research into Māori contributions to high-tech innovation shows how AI can be developed to support tino rangatiratanga (self-determination) and protect taonga (that which is treasured).
As AI evolves, ensuring its alignment with indigenous values and aspirations is essential. Open Paws' work in advocating for animal rights through AI demonstrates how technology can uphold these values, promoting a future where AI serves the well-being of all beings and the environment they share.
Te Whakawhānui i te Kōrero i Roto i te Horopaki o te Tika Kararehe (Expanding Language in the Context of Animal Rights)
Preserving te reo Māori is essential to maintaining cultural identity and spiritual connection to the awa (river), whenua (land), and tangata (people). Technology plays a crucial role in language preservation, with digital tools supporting its revitalization. For Open Paws, integrating te reo Māori into AI models designed to promote veganism and animal rights presents a unique opportunity to expand the language's use in impactful and meaningful ways. By collecting data and feedback from tangata whenua (indigenous people), we ensure that these AI models reflect cultural nuances and linguistic diversity, contributing to the ongoing revitalization of te reo Māori.
This approach aligns with research on language revitalisation, which emphasises the importance of intergenerational transmission and the use of Māori in a range of settings.
Te Whakapūmau i te Reo, te Ahurea, me ngā Tikanga o ngā Iwi Taketake o te Ao (Preserving Language, Culture, and Indigenous Knowledge Globally)
In a world shaped by globalisation and technologies developed primarily by White men in Silicon Valley, indigenous languages, cultures, and knowledge systems risk continued marginalisation.
For Māori, preserving te reo Māori is linked to the broader struggle of indigenous peoples worldwide to protect their languages, lands, and ways of life. This solidarity with other indigenous communities is deeply embedded in the Māori worldview, emphasising whanaungatanga and manaakitanga across all peoples and ecosystems.
By integrating the tikanga (customs) of Māori and other indigenous peoples into AI systems, we can create tools that promote environmental stewardship and animal rights—areas where indigenous knowledge has long provided guidance. This approach aligns with global movements advocating for the rights of nature and the recognition of the interconnectedness of all life, principles central to both Māori and many other indigenous worldviews. That means not only using diverse languages in AI interfaces but also embedding indigenous ways of knowing into the very foundations of these technologies.
This vision is grounded in the principle of tino rangatiratanga and extends it globally, promoting a world where all people have the power to control the technologies that shape our collective future. To truly embody this principle, we commit to open sourcing the data we collect and the models we develop, ensuring that communities have complete authority over the development and use of these technologies. This commitment goes beyond mere participation; it places indigenous peoples in the role of decision-makers, empowering them to define, govern, and utilise technology in ways that resonate with their own values and aspirations. In doing so, we affirm the right of indigenous communities to self-determination, extending this right into the technological realm to ensure that technology becomes a means of supporting self-governance and collective liberation, rather than a tool of further marginalisation.
Te Rapu Kaitūao mō te Hanga Utauta Atamai Kararehe (Seeking Volunteers to Shape AI for Animal Advocacy)
Before concluding, I would like to mention an exciting opportunity for those passionate about language and animal advocacy. Open Paws is currently seeking volunteers from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds to help generate responses and provide feedback on AI models in over 150 languages, including te reo Māori. We are particularly interested in collaborating with animal advocates who can ensure that the tools we develop are culturally sensitive, inclusive of indigenous knowledge and diverse perspectives. By participating, you can help shape technology that supports the protection of animals, the environment, and cultural heritage. Your contributions will ensure that AI models are inclusive, effective and responsive to cultural sensitivities in the ways they advocate for animals.
Whakamutunga (Conclusion)
Just as Te Awa Tupua flows from the mountains to the sea, gathering strength and connecting all it touches, this kōrero has journeyed through the intertwined narratives of the Whanganui River, the people who hold it sacred, and the evolving role of technology in preserving and honouring these connections. The river symbolises the flow of ideas and values that guide this discussion, reinforcing that the health of the river, the well-being of the people, the planet, and animals are deeply interconnected.
Integrating mātauranga and tikanga Māori into AI is not just about advancing technology; it is a continuation of ancestral wisdom that shapes the future while remaining rooted in the past. Like Te Awa Tupua's journey that begins locally with the mountain and extends into the larger global cycle of sea, this kōrero expands Māori concepts to connect with broader global communities, emphasising our shared responsibility to ensure that AI and other technologies serve as forces for good—honouring the whakapapa and mauri of all beings.
As this kōrero concludes, it reflects the enduring journey of Te Awa Tupua—a journey symbolising our shared responsibility to protect, preserve, and celebrate the diverse cultures and ecosystems that sustain us. By embedding the principles of kaitiakitanga, manaakitanga, and whakawhanaungatanga into AI development, we not only honour the wisdom of the past but also guide the innovations of tomorrow. This approach ensures that our rivers, stories, and connections to the natural world remain vibrant and enduring, flowing strong for generations of both humans and non-humans to come.
Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa (Thank you to everyone) for hearing my kōrero.
I want to acknowledge that I am still a beginner on my journey of learning about the whakapapa and tikanga of my iwi. I do not claim to be an expert in te ao Māori, but I write this with deep respect for these traditions. I encourage anyone else trying to reconnect with this part of themselves to consult with their kaumātua (elders) and seek guidance from those knowledgeable in these matters. Our journey of learning and reconnecting is a shared one, and it's important to honour and uphold the wisdom of our elders and ancestors.
Ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au - I am the river and the river is me.
About the Author
Sam Tucker, of both Māori (Te Atihaunui-a-Pāpārangi) and Pākehā whakapapa, is the founder of Open Paws, a nonprofit using AI to advance animal advocacy. With over 15 years of experience in animal advocacy, Sam’s work is guided by kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and tino rangatiratanga (self-determination), with a deep respect for the diverse spiritual, cultural, linguistic, philosphical and scientific threads of the global animal rights movement.
Like the strands of a taura whiri (braided rope), each thread is precious in its own right, but becomes stronger when woven together through whanaungatanga (interconnectedness), binding us together in our shared mission as global animal advocates.
