What’s the plan?

Whaia te mātauranga, kia tika te ara whānui o te ao hangarau.

The New Zealand Public Service has a strategic responsibility to uphold and give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi in all its activities, including how it serves Māori in the digital age. This includes strengthening the Māori-Crown relationship and ensuring Māori rights, interests, and aspirations are upheld. This allows the Government Chief Digital Officer (GCDO) to apply these commitments directly to the development of digital policy and the delivery of digital services across the public service.

A key part of this role is embedding Iwi-Māori digital aspirations across the public service by working with system leads and agency partners to influence the design and delivery of digital systems and services. The mahi (work) is grounded in strategic foresight and long-term partnerships.

The GCDO is guided by iwi partnerships, such as the Mana Ōrite Relationship Agreement, Treaty accords and key forums. These connections ensure system work is shaped alongside Māori partners and advances initiatives that reflect trust, respect cultural relevance and enduring relationships.

How’s it going?

The team have strengthened internal and external partnerships, uplifted staff cultural capability and guided digital programmes through a Māori values-based framework.

Their advisory support has shaped initiatives such as:

• artificial intelligence
• digital identity
• digital standards
• Māori data governance
• cloud transition.

There’s now a growing demand for Māori input in emerging technologies like AI, augmented and virtual reality and data sovereignty and standards — an encouraging sign of system change.

What’s next?

The team’s work will continue to embed Māori perspectives across digital services, respond to emerging technology risks and opportunities, supporting inclusive design and focussing on addressing the digital divide in a way that reflects Māori values and priorities.

Where can I find out more?

Māori-Crown relationships and treaty obligations

Mana Ōrite Relationship Agreement