Hack Tairawhiti is being led by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and Te Tira Toi Whakangao (T3W), with support from Datacom, and has a focus on global Maori tech companies and Maori sector investors.
Te Tira Toi Whakangao director Barry Soutar, of Ngati Porou, says the tech industry is an emerging player for regional development because it can transcend into the major industries of the region such as agriculture, forestry, fishing and tourism.
“The event will demonstrate how harnessing the power of technology can enable us to grow scalable businesses from regional New Zealand to the world.”
“Also, connecting whanau to the tech venture ecosystem plays a vital role in improving Maori prosperity, which is why Hack Tairawhiti is so important.”
Eight international Maori tech companies and two local businesses will pitch product/business challenges to a group of participants ranging from senior developers to business mentors.
Participants will work in teams to attack the business problems over 48 hours, working towards prototype solutions.
The event ends on Sunday afternoon with each team pitching their solution to a panel of judges that includes Mayor Meng Foon, businesswoman and director Linda Jenkinson, Nanogirl Labs founder and director Dr Michelle Dickinson and Straker Translations chief executive Grant Straker.
Mr Soutar says the event is a coup.
“At other hackathon events in Auckland, they would attract around 60 to 70 participants, and would have to solve one business problem. In Gisborne, we have 130 participants and 10 Maori export companies, so that’s 10 commercial export and global problems to be solved. That’s unheard of. No one has seen that number before at any standard hack in the city.
“When we asked young developers why they were interested in coming to Hack Tairawhiti, the number one reason was Maori culture.
“Another aspect was the beauty of our scenic places. When they saw video shots of where the hackathon was being held, they were amazed — tech on the beach. They have only experienced hackathons in the city. This is our point of difference. It’s not just a tech event; this is also a lead-in to tourism. We want to use the event as an opportunity to entice visitors to the area through the things that are iconic to this region.”
Game and design development company Metia Interactive was compelled by the idea of Hack Tairawhiti.
The business question it is putting forward is “help us save cultures and challenged communities through Artificial Intelligence-created storylines for gaming”.
“I was curious,” says Metia founder Maru Nihoniho, who is of Ngati Porou, Te Whanau a Apanui and Ngai Tahu descent.
“I think the main opportunity is around getting a high-tech idea out there that will benefit Maori, or at the least highlight possible solutions to help Maori take steps forward in using technology in creative ways to bring these ideas to life.”
Hack Tairawhiti is also providing an opportunity for local businesses.
LeaderBrand IT manager Matt Oakley outlined their horticultural business challenge in a video on the hackathon website.
“Help us reduce crop and environmental damage caused by reliance on human memory and experience. There is a growing demand on the generation of food supplies. Our growers compete for land against housing and infrastructure and other urban uses.
“Last year the top five exports from NZ all required more land to generate the produce. As a direct result, there is less land available for the production of goods for the domestic market. We are looking for a way to make sure we better use the land to increase the yields and become in a better position to supply the domestic market and export produce.”
Ken Houkamau, of Ngati Porou Seafoods, is asking innovators to help create wealth in small and remote tribal communities by getting its message heard on the global stage.
“As a small indigenous player in the global industry we reside a long way from our customers and the marketplace. We have limited influence across the value chain. We need to ensure our unique messaging, our Ngati Poroutanga — what makes us who we are — is heard in a unique and compelling way.
“Sharing the story of our people, product, place, environment, and our commitment to kaitiakitanga and sustainability, this will lead to transformative change for our community.”
