Te Kore To Code
I never saw myself as a "engineer" at first. I was a designer, a visual thinker. But over time, trying to break into the design world it wasn't enough and I wanted to build the tools I was imagining.
My journey into software development came gradually. It started with values: culture, community, and a deep need to bridge the tech gap for wahine and Māori in tech.
At the core of everything and the way I approach tech are five guiding values:
- Tino Rangatiratanga – Self-determination. The freedom to shape your path
- Whanaungatanga – Connection. The importance of relationships and collective wellbeing
- Waihanga – Creativity. The power of expression through making
- Tūhura – Discovery. An openness to curiosity and constant learning
- Mātauranga – Knowledge. Holding space for both traditional and modern ways of knowing
Bridging the gap and getting more Māori into tech
Being in tech is not just about building software. It is about creating opportunities, and showing that there is space for us here. I want to see more Māori in positions of influence, shaping the digital tools and systems that impact our everyday lives. Not just to close the income gap, but to weave our values into the future of technology.
For many Māori, careers in high-paying or highly skilled industries like tech often feel out of reach. I want to encourage more Māori into these pathways.
"Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini."
My success is not mine alone, but the success of many.
My Catalyst Into Tech
A defining chapter of my journey was living in a kaupapa Māori community in Whāingaroa. A group of us, mostly in our 20s and 30s, came together on Māori land to live, learn, and build a different way of being.
There was no formal curriculum. Instead, we followed ako, a form of reciprocal learning shaped by shared purpose. We grew organic food, followed maramataka (the Māori lunar calendar) and explored sustainability, held wānanga in Mātauranga Māori and passion-project-led workshops.
It wasn’t always easy. Navigating shared power and accountability was challenging. But our shared values kept us anchored:
- Ako – Teaching and learning together
- Maramataka – Honouring natural cycles and energy rhythms
- Wānanga – Deep, collective reflection before action
- Whanaungatanga – Staying connected through conflict
- Tikanga Māori – Shared customs guiding respect and behaviour
- Kaupapa Māori – The reason behind everything we did****
That experience became a blueprint for how I want to live and work. It inspired my shift from design thinking to digital building, where I could bring together the natural world and the tech world in meaningful ways.
Why It Matters in Tech
In a world of fast innovation, I'm driven by my culture than individualism, I believe in collective growth.
It’s about building with intention, purposeful innovation and acknowledging indigenous design systems.
If this resonates with you, I’d love to connect.
Ngā mihi nui for reading.