Tāiki e! Impact House

Less Hui, More Doey—Digital Equity in Action. Over the last three weeks, rangatahi from Tāiki e! Next Gen have stepped up as teachers, running Alexa workshops with kaumātua—helping them set up smart devices to make everyday life easier. Lights on with a voice command. Reminders for medication. Hands-free calling to whānau. Radio, podcasts, and even a daily inspiration quote at their fingertips. This was more than just tech—it was intergenerational learning in action. Kaumātua gaining independence, connection, and confidence with digital tools. Rangatahi stepping into leadership, sharing their skills, and seeing firsthand the impact of their mahi. The appreciation from our kaumātua was next level—acknowledging not just the learning but the mana of our young people stepping up in service of their community. The results? Kaumātua who feel empowered. Rangatahi who know they can lead. And a stronger, more connected Tairāwhiti. None of this happens without the collective effort of the Tairawhiti Technology Trust and our whānau across the region who believe in action over talk. And big mihi to InternetNZ | Ipurangi Aotearoa for backing this kaupapa in real, tangible ways. The digital future isn’t something we wait for—it’s something we build together. The challenge is clear. Who’s stepping up? Tāiki e! Rāngai Hikurangi Enterprises TŌNUI Collab Te Weu Charitable Trust TOLAGA BAY INN #DigitalEquity #KaumātuaConnected #RangatahiLeading #IntergenerationalLearning #PeopleAreOurWealth #TairāwhitiTech #LessHuiMoreDoey

Tech Hubs Rising in Te Tairāwhiti – Bridging the Digital Divide, One Step at a Time Another piece of the puzzle is in place—a new Tech Hub at Tolaga Bay Innovation! This is more than just setting up computers and internet connections; it’s about creating digital pathways for our people, in our place, on our terms. In Te Tairāwhiti, digital inclusion isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. Access to technology, skills, and connectivity can mean the difference between opportunity and exclusion. That’s why we’re not waiting for solutions to arrive from somewhere else—we’re building them ourselves. Through our Digital Equity Project, funded by InternetNZ, we’re working alongside our community to create Tech Hubs in rural and coastal communities. These aren’t just rooms with computers—they’re gateways to learning, employment, entrepreneurship, and connection. But this kaupapa is bigger than funding. It’s about who shows up to make the vision real. 🔹 Can you support with tech, training, or mentoring? 🔹 Do you have skills to share or networks to connect? 🔹 Are you part of a business that could back this work? The digital divide is real, but so is our collective power to change it. If you want to be part of this movement—to help bridge the gap, unlock potential, and create real, lasting impact—let’s talk. Grateful to the powerhouse collective making this happen—Tairāwhiti Digital Tech Collective—walking the talk, weaving resources, and driving this kaupapa forward. Tairawhiti Technology Trust TOLAGA BAY INN Rāngai TŌNUI Collab Hikurangi Enterprises Te Weu Charitable Trust InternetNZ | Ipurangi Aotearoa #Kotahitanga #Tairāwhiti #MāoriTech #DigitalInclusion #TinoRangatiratanga

📢 Exciting progress in Wharekahika! On Friday we kicked off the setup of the Digital Hub at Te Aroha Kanarahi Trust as part of our digital equity project funded by Internet NZ. It was a mean day alongside our whānau from Rāngai, Taitech, and Tolaga Bay Innovation. This week, we’ll be down in Tolaga Bay to set up the next Digital Hub, with plans already in motion for Wairoa and other rural parts of Te Tairāwhiti. This kaupapa is a collaborative effort among the tech organisations in our region, including Rāngai, Taitech, Tolaga Bay Innovation, Te Weu, Tōnui, Hikurangi Enterprises, and us at Tāiki e! Stay tuned as we continue to roll out these resources to bridge the digital divide and empower our communities! 💻✨ Less hui (and strategies), More Doey! #DigitalEquity #TairāwhitiTech #Collaboration #InternetNZ #TaikiE #TeTairāwhiti

This Friday, the latest Kia Kaha Te Reo Māori merchandise hits the shelves at The Warehouse, and we couldn’t be prouder to see te reo Māori celebrated in such a bold and beautiful way! 🙌 Together with Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori, this merch drop is all about keeping our reo strong and visible—ka mau te wehi! 🌟 But that’s not all! At Tāiki e!, we’ve been dreaming big at the Haututu Hacklab, and we’re excited to share our latest innovation: an AI-powered language light display! 💡✨ This kaupapa lights up in vibrant neon colours whenever it hears reo Māori being spoken. It’s our way of celebrating and uplifting te reo in a unique, tech-savvy way—and showing that Māori innovation is at the cutting edge! Grab the Kia Kaha merch from The Warehouse this Friday, and keep repping te reo Māori wherever you go.

🌟 Excited to share an innovative digital art installation celebrating te reo Māori! He kaupapa auaha, he kaupapa whakahihiri a Kupukā e whakanui ana i tō tātou reo rangatira. I te wā ka kōrero koe, ka kā mai, ka whiti mai ngā rama, ānō nei he arero ora e ngunguru ana. He āhuatanga motuhake tēnei e poipoi ana i te hiahia o te tangata ki te kōrero Māori, e whakaatu ana hoki i te hononga o te ao tawhito ki te ao hangarau o ēnei rā. Ka kōrero, ka kā! Introducing Kupukā - where technology meets te reo in a stunning interactive display. This groundbreaking installation uses AI voice recognition to create a dynamic light show that responds to spoken Māori language. As you korero, vibrant lines illuminate like a living, breathing arero (tongue), creating a mesmerising visual representation of our spoken reo. What makes this special: • Real-time AI response to spoken te reo Māori • Beautiful neon-style light display that activates with each kupu • Creates an engaging, interactive way to encourage more people to speak te reo • Perfect for public spaces, supermarkets, and educational settings • Bridges traditional language with modern technology This installation shows how technology can help revitalise and celebrate te reo Māori in new and exciting ways. It's not just about preserving our language - it's about bringing it into the future and making it shine! ✨ Made in Tairāwhiti’s very own Haututu HackLab, a vibrant innovation space in the heart of Gisborne’s CBD. Ka kōrero, ka kā | Speak and shine ⭐ #tairāwhiti #tāikie #TeReoMāori #Innovation #TeReoMāoriWeek #TechForGood #NZTech #Aotearoa

🌟 Exciting Innovation in Te Reo Māori Technology! 🌟 Just had to share this incredible project from Haututu Hacklab that beautifully bridges technology and te reo Māori! We’ve created an interactive neon light installation of the Māori Language Week tohu that responds to spoken te reo. How it works: As you speak Māori words, different sections of the light installation illuminate in sequence - the more reo you use, the more the artwork comes to life! It's such an innovative way to encourage people to practice their te reo and see their efforts literally light up the room While the project is still in its early stages, seeing the basic system in action is already inspiring. What really struck me was the collaborative spirit behind it - watching experts from different fields come together to bring this vision to life. We had language specialists working alongside electrical engineers, software developers partnering with A.I advisors, and artists collaborating with tech innovators. This project perfectly demonstrates why Aotearoa needs to invest more in innovation spaces and prototyping hubs like Haututu HackLab. When we create environments where different disciplines can intersect and experiment, magic happens! These are the kinds of projects that not only advance technology but also strengthen our cultural connections in meaningful ways. Ka mau te wehi! 🌿 #TeReoMāori #Innovation #Technology #AotearoaTech #MāoriLanguageWeek #HaututuHackLab #TechForGood

Looking forward to hosting Saara and the Rakahinonga kaupapa again at Tāiki e! on 16 November 2024. It kickstarts Global Entrepreneurship Week and a week long series of activities promoting, encouraging and supporting business in our communities. Great kaupapa, jump on board while there are spaces left!

These are some of the cool rangatahi of Tāiki e! Next Gen. Our Next Gen group is there to build skills and confidence of the next generation of community leaders and social innovators through hands on entrepreneurial experiences.

On Friday at the Tipu Mātoro ki te Ao - Rangatahi Gathering in Te Tairāwhiti, we witnessed an inspiring turnout of rangatahi eager to engage in discussions about our economy and the region's future. Economist Shamubeel Eaqub delivered a powerful presentation that challenged us to pursue systemic changes in our economic landscape. Rangatahi speakers shared their hopes and fears, emphasizing the need for unity and support to access greater opportunities. The afternoon included creative breakout sessions, where participants explored their visions for the future through activities like building the future with Lego, Podcast interviews, workshopping through our own government budget, painting our home, graphic note taking and creating a new brand for a rangatahi movement. So many insights and learnings from this gathering. Our biggest takeaway - our people are our most strategic asset. 25 and unders make up 40% or our region’s population. We need to take an investment approach to our youth and focus on the skills and opportunities they need to help them grow. As we think about investments into regional infrastructure, and regional economic development, how much are we thinking about growing our rangatahi beyond the low skill labour elements of big infrastructure projects? Again, what does a multi-year $100m investment into rangatahi development look like for Tairāwhiti?

Looking forward to our upcoming hui with Social Value Aotearoa. Keen to probe more into this field and kōrero - if you are in Turanga nui a Kiwa come along and let’s have an exploratory whakawhiti