Aunty Doa's

23/03/2026

Trustworthy AI starts with clear foundations.

How do you know your digital tools respect your values? What does governance-grade really mean for our whānau and communities?

Practical steps can protect privacy and build trust, without adding overwhelm.

If you want to see a simple checklist for responsible AI, comment ‘checklist’ below or message me.

Kia ora tātou 🌱

23/03/2026

Fuel prices are climbing. Groceries are getting dearer. Whānau budgets are getting tighter.

If you're feeling the squeeze, you're not alone.

91-octane is averaging $3.13 per litre right now. Economists are warning of $4 per litre scenarios. And groceries aren't getting cheaper either.

Most cost-of-living advice out there is written for individual budgets. It doesn't account for how many of us actually live: collective households, cultural obligations (koha, fa'alavelave, church tithes, remittances), and the reality that we were already stretched before prices started rising.

This week, I've published a practical guide that speaks directly to Māori and Pacific whānau. It's grounded in what's actually happening right now with fuel and groceries, and it offers real strategies you can use today.

Read the full post and discover what's coming next for NZ fuel prices, plus actionable steps to protect your whānau budget.

https://www.jamespratt.com/blog/fuel-prices-whanau-budgets-whats-coming-next

13/03/2026

If you're going to do SEO, make it a weekly habit - not a once-a-year panic.

In the SiteGuru deep dive, I included a simple implementation plan: first 60 minutes setup, then a Week 1 focus on the top five fixes that typically move the needle fastest.

Read the full review: https://www.jamespratt.com/blog/siteguru-deep-dive-review

17/12/2025

10/12/2025

09/12/2025

Māori Innovation & Entrepreneurship Weekly Digest

Week of December 9, 2025

Kotahitanga (Unity) is the theme this week, with new investment, record sector growth, and a push for global Indigenous collaboration.

1️⃣ Kiingitanga launches $100m Kotahitanga Fund, A new Māori-owned investment platform pools iwi capital and partners with global investors to drive large-scale development and intergenerational wealth.

More: https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/11/30/maori-queen-launches-multi-million-dollar-investment-platform/

2️⃣ Māori economy hits $126 billion, New data shows Māori assets have surged, with growth in housing, tech, and services making the sector a pillar of Aotearoa’s economic resilience.

More: https://www.teaonews.co.nz/2025/12/01/maori-economy-reaches-126b-as-growth-plans-aim-to-drive-further-expansion/

3️⃣ Call for a Global Indigenous Trading System, Leaders at the Ōhanga ki te Ao summit propose a global Indigenous trade network linking Māori, Canada, Australia, and the Pacific to scale through trusted, values-driven partnerships.

More: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/news/2025/12/04/Indigenous-trading-system.html

4️⃣ Ngāi Tahu takes High Court action on conservation reforms. The iwi challenges government proposals, arguing they undermine Treaty rights and set a precedent for Māori asset management.

More: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/f5aac9273041d44d6d4b090ede49bed6332793fd

5️⃣ BDO: Māori business confidence outperforms the national average. New research shows Māori leaders remain optimistic, crediting intergenerational planning and a multiple bottom line approach for their resilience.

More: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/f5aac9273041d44d6d4b090ede49bed6332793fd

Upcoming:

– Te Papa: Breathe | Mauri Ora Opening, Dec 13, Wellington – https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0003598X00036796/type/journal_article

– 2026 Māori Education Trust Scholarships: Open now – https://maorieducation.org.nz/scholarships-2026/

– Next Kohinga Koha Business Expo: Tauranga Moana (date TBC)

Which update most resonates with your mahi or business? Tag a Māori entrepreneur, leader, or kaupapa we should spotlight next.

03/12/2025

27/11/2025

13/11/2025

11/11/2025

Māori Entrepreneurship & Digital Innovation Digest

November 9, 2025

Kia ora e te whānau,

This week: wāhine Māori business wins, new innovation partnerships, historic language celebration, and digital tools for growth.

1️⃣ MWDI Māori Businesswomen’s Awards: Nicole Horan (Hi Mama Productions) wins Supreme Award. 100+ wāhine recognised across 10 categories.

More: https://mwdi.co.nz/awards/

2️⃣ Callaghan Innovation & Te Taumata team up to support Māori business growth in tech, science, and export. Māori economy now tops $80B.

More: https://www.callaghaninnovation.govt.nz/stories/new-partnership-supports-maori-business-innovation/

https://waateanews.com/2025/06/18/the-maori-economy-exceeds-80-billion/

3️⃣ Toitū Te Reo - Aotearoa’s first global Māori language festival - runs Nov 13–14 in Hastings. Celebrate te reo Māori, kai, kapa haka, and more.

More: https://www.toitutereo.co.nz

4️⃣ Free AI tools for Māori business: AI Activator and GovGPT (multilingual AI chatbot) help Māori enterprises access support and boost productivity.

More: https://www.callaghaninnovation.govt.nz/stories/ai-activator-to-support-rapid-adoption-of-transformative-ai-technologies/

https://www.interest.co.nz/technology/129681/callaghan-innovation-and-wh%C4%81riki-m%C4%81ori-business-network-develop-govgpt-ai-chatbot

5️⃣ Māori economy reaches $80B+ with 24,000+ Māori-owned businesses. Forestry, fisheries, tourism, and tech lead the way.

More: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/news/2025/05/13/maori-economy-thriving.html

6️⃣ 56% of non-Māori scientists now value mātauranga Māori equally to Western science, driving new research partnerships and innovation.

More: https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/news/2024/10/majority-of-nz-researchers-see-maori-indigenous-knowledge-as-relevant-to-their-workbut-there-is-a-gender-divide

Upcoming:

Nov 13–14: Toitū Te Reo Festival, Hastings – https://www.toitutereo.co.nz

Monthly: Innovation Wānanga, University of Auckland – https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/cie/programmes-workshops-events/all/innovation-wananga.html

Māori business is thriving - connect, innovate, and lead with tikanga. Tag a Māori entrepreneur or event making an impact!

29/10/2025

🌿 Talofa lava, kia ora tātou!

How do you chart your business course in a changing world?

Our latest blog explores Whakatere / Folau - the art of strategic navigation using cultural wisdom as your compass.

Discover how Pacific, Māori, and global entrepreneurs are blending heritage values with adaptive strategy to achieve purposeful innovation and sustainable growth.

👉 Read the full article:

https://www.jamespratt.com/blog/whakatere-folau-strategic-navigation-cultural-wisdom

How do your values guide your business direction? Share your thoughts below!