This year, as part of our Independent Research Organisation funding, we started a small project investigating our understandings of data governance and data sovereignty, which included initial conversations about how we may be able to best support our iwi owner and their data storage needs. As part of that work, we have recently developed our own data sovereignty model, Te Pā Raraunga o Whakauae. The model is based on the topography of the site where Okahupokia pā once stood. Situated on the banks of the Rangitīkei river, Okahupokia was a pā tūwatawata (fortified village) inhabited by the people of Ngāti Hauiti and the eponymous ancestor, Hauiti. The model, Te Pā Raraunga o Whakauae was developed to represent our approach to data sovereignty and data governance based on the functions of each wāhanga (section, part) within pā tūwatawata. The wāhanga for Te Pā Raraunga o Whakauae are: Pūwhara (watch towers – representing oversight and monitoring), Pātaka Kōrero (storage house – represents data repositories), Tomokanga (gateway – represents access control and ethics), Whare Maihi (meeting house – represents decision making and authority), Pātūtū (palisades – represents data protection and cybersecurity), and Tuaropari (defensive terraces – represents governance structures).
With support from Te Mana Huwyler, we were able to illustrate the pā tūwatawata concept based on Okahupokia in the infographic of Te Pā Raraunga o Whakauae and images of the Okahupokia pā site. The conceptualisation of a pā tūwatawata helps explain our intention to recognise data as a taonga and safeguard data from external threats, similar to the functions of a pā tūwatawata. This is important given the nature of the work that Whakauae undertakes in data collection, storage, and dissemination. Recently, researchers from Whakauae have submitted a paper to the Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand for review ahead of publication in a special issue. The paper discusses our intent for undertaking data sovereignty and governance protocols as the research arm for Ngāti Hauiti, including the development of Te Pā Raraunga o Whakauae. Looking ahead, further work is being done to strengthen our policies and processes around data management, data handling, and data stewardship by developing capability among our kaimahi as data kaitiaki.
Join us for a virtual tour of Okahupokia pā
Intellectual Property Notice: The infographic Te Pā Raraunga o Whakauae, and video as published on our website, is the intellectual property of Whakauae Research Services Limited. It must not be copied, digitised, or distributed either in full or in part, including via social media or other digital platforms. For any enquiries, please contact our team at kiaora@whakauae.co.nz.
