Taking Ngāti Ruanui tech skills to the world

30 August 2024

An innovative programme exploring the possibilities of cutting-edge technology is again sending a group of rangata’i to Silicon Valley.

This third delegation of design thinking and digital innovation students are members of Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui Trust's 2NUiCODE programme.

Launched in 2015, 2NUiCODE was New Zealand’s first iwi owned and run digital coding initiative and continues to embrace new technologies like artificial intelligence, virtual reality and 3D printing.

The trip to California in September will include workshops at Stanford University, Microsoft, Google's HQ, Twitch and other technology businesses.

Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui Trust Kaiw’aka’aere Rachel Arnott said 2NUiCODE had always held the w’akaaro that digital literacy needed be freely accessible to all our rangata’i,

“This programme has been designed to upskill our rangata’i into outstanding digital citizens capable of shaping the world they want.

“From 3D printing to programming they learn how to turn their ideas into functioning reality.

“We must carve out our own identity in this vital and ever-growing, multi-billion-dollar sector.”

From his own journey within 2NUiCODE, and now helping guide the next generation, Te Kiri King understands the opportunities before the twenty students.

“During this action-packed trip, they will meet and learn from leading figures in the tech industry.

“I was fortunate enough to be included on two of the previous trips as a student and now as kaima’i.

“Like any curious kid I just wondered how big the world actually was and being able to experience it first-hand opened doors previously unseen.

“This trip will spark their imaginations and foster their entrepreneurial spirit.”