Decentralised, iwi-designed, Māori-owned data storage
Experience the highest degree of protection and security, without compromising your collective values, privacy and principles.
Who we are
Protecting your digitalisable taonga and mātauranga
Te Pā Tūwatawata is a decentralised, iwi-designed and Māori owned data storage network, developed by Te Kāhui Raraunga.
Our premium service provides you with the highest degree of data protection and security, without compromising your collective values, privacy and principles.
Te Pā Tūwatawata houses your data in a secure environment, with technology specifically configured to allow for the expression of your tikanga and kawa.
The name ‘Te Pā Tūwatawata’ derives from a Pā Tūwatawata – a place of strength and security, positioned strategically within the rohe to defend, and provide for those within its confines. Te Pā Tūwatawata will house the continuity of our consciousness and privilege mātauranga Māori at its centre.
7
Distributed locations
100
%
NZ owned
S3
compatible
Our services
What services we provide for your business
Highest levels of security and safety
Full end-to-end encryption both while your data sits within your storage repository and during transfer.
Geographic sovereignty
Your data is stored in a physical location chosen by you and is held subject to the tikanga and kawa that you define.
Indigenous Values
Honouring tribal Māori authority over tribal Māori data through a cultural framework that respects tikanga and kawa (traditional protocols, customs and lores), while also sharing value, expertise and resources.
Scalable storage options with high availability
Infrastructure designed for secure, fast and seamless access. From marae to enterprise grade, we offer storage options that are right-sized to meet your needs and scale with the pace of your growth.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is Te Pā Tūwatawata?
Te Pā Tūwatawata is a distributed data storage infrastructure designed specifically to meet the needs of iwi Māori. It provides secure, sovereign, and environmentally responsible data storage, built on open source technology, led by Māori practitioners, and grounded in tikanga Māori and Māori data sovereignty principles.
Why does Te Pā Tūwatawata exist?
Existing data infrastructure was not designed with Māori data sovereignty in mind. Te Pā Tūwatawata was created to ensure that iwi, hapū, and whānau have genuine control over their own data, where it is stored, who can access it, and how it is governed, within a framework that reflects our worldview and obligations to one another.
Who is this for?
Te Pā Tūwatawata is designed for iwi, hapū, whānau, Māori organisations, and public sector agencies working with Māori data. It is also suitable for organisations committed to true data sovereignty and/or operating within a Treaty-centred data governance framework.
What does ‘distributed storage infrastructure’ mean in plain terms?
Rather than storing data in one centralised location (often overseas and outside your control), distributed storage spreads data across multiple secure nodes. This means no single point of failure, greater resilience, and critically the ability to keep data within specific jurisdictions, in this case Aotearoa New Zealand.
Who controls our data?
You do. Te Pā Tūwatawata is built on the principle of tino rangatiratanga; that iwi and communities retain authority over their own information. Data flow, data treatment, and data governance frameworks are co-designed with you, not imposed on you.
Where is our data stored and why does that matter?
Data jurisdiction matters because where data is stored determines which laws apply to it. Te Pā Tūwatawata prioritises keeping data onshore in Aotearoa, protecting it from foreign government access, commercial exploitation, and legal frameworks that do not reflect Treaty obligations or Māori values.
Who leads and runs Te Pā Tūwatawata?
Te Pā Tūwatawata is led by Māori practitioners, technologists, data specialists, and experts who centre their work in te ao Māori, tikanga, and Treaty principles. This is not a service designed for Māori by others; it is Māori-led from the ground up.
Is this built on open source technology and why?
Yes. Open source technology means the underlying code is transparent, auditable, and not owned by any single commercial vendor. This gives communities real control and security, eliminates dependency on proprietary systems, and ensures the infrastructure can be independently verified and adapted over time.
How do we get started?
Getting started begins with a kōrero. We take time to understand your data needs, your governance aspirations, and your community context before recommending a solution. Contact us below to begin that conversation.
How does Te Pā Tūwatawata support the environment?
The infrastructure is designed with environmental sustainability at its core, supporting the regeneration principles central to kaitiakitanga. This includes prioritising energy-efficient infrastructure and minimising the environmental footprint of data storage, aligning digital practice with our obligations to the natural world.
Is it affordable for smaller organisations?
Yes. The system is built to be flexible and scalable, meaning you only use and pay for what you need. Whether you are a small hapū or a large iwi organisation, the infrastructure can be sized and priced to suit your context making genuine data sovereignty accessible, not just aspirational.
How is Te Pā Tūwatawata different from commercial cloud providers like AWS or Microsoft Azure?
Commercial providers are governed by their own terms, subject to foreign law, and operate on profit-driven models. Te Pā Tūwatawata operates within a relationship-based model, grounded in shared values and mutual accountability. Your data is not a product. It is a taonga and it is treated accordingly.
What kind of ongoing support is provided?
Te Pā Tūwatawata operates on a trusted relationship model with shared resourcing. This means you are not just purchasing a service, you are entering a relationship with a team that is invested in your outcomes. Ongoing support, shared learning, and collaborative problem-solving are built into the model.
We are onboarding our first wave of customers now. If you would like to be in the second wave please register in the contact form below.
Whakapā mai
Complete the contact form below to register your interest. You will also receive updates on when Te Pā Tūwatawata will be available, and how to sign up.