Data That Is Treated as Taonga and Built to Scale
Data is not just information. For many organisations in Aotearoa, data is taonga. It represents people, whānau, services, decisions, histories, and futures. When data is scattered across systems, stored offshore, or managed without clear responsibility, it becomes harder to protect and harder to trust.
Modern data architecture is about putting the right structure in place so your data is collected with purpose, stored securely, governed responsibly, and used in ways that support your people and your kaupapa.
Nepata Digital works alongside small and medium businesses, iwi, hapū, and community organisations to design and implement data structures that respect Māori data sovereignty while still enabling insight, growth, and innovation. You do not need to understand the technical detail. Our role is to translate your values into the right technical decisions.
Why Our Approach Is Different
Earlier this year, I had the privilege of attending an international data conference in Brisbane. It was inspiring to be surrounded by so many dedicated professionals working across the data space.
During one conversation, I was speaking with a representative from an organisation whose entire focus was data. As we talked, I shared how I have always viewed data as something deeply personal. It was never just zeros and ones to me. It was a digital representation of human interaction in some form. Because of that, I have always treated data with the mana it deserves, remembering that at any given point I am a caretaker of that human representation. The wahine I was speaking with had never heard data described this way, which I found surprising.
On reflection, it highlighted where a disconnect can occur. When we lose sight of what data actually represents, we stop feeling the weight and responsibility of working with it. This was not a reflection on her capability or the incredible work she does with data. It was an aha moment for me. I realised I have always treated data as the precious taonga it is. At times, that belief has put me in direct conflict with marketing teams and occasionally with CEOs as well. But as professionals, we all have a responsibility to speak our truth and decide whether our values are strong enough to stand behind.
This belief is a core value at Nepata Digital.
Our Commitment to You
We will not treat data as a commodity. We will treat it as something entrusted to us.
Our commitment is grounded in the understanding that data represents people, whānau, services, and lived experience. Because of that, every technical decision we make is guided by responsibility, care, and long term thinking.
At Nepata Digital, this commitment means:
We design systems that protect mana and dignity, not just information
We prioritise clear ownership so organisations remain in control of their data
We support governance models that align with tikanga and organisational values
We advocate for data to be stored and managed in Aotearoa where appropriate
We build structures that are transparent, auditable, and explainable
We plan for future generations, not just current reporting needs
We understand that trust is earned over time. Our role is not to take control of your data, but to help you build the capability and confidence to remain its kaitiaki. This approach sometimes means slowing down, asking harder questions, and choosing the right path over the easiest one. We believe that is part of our responsibility.
