Ngai Tamanuhiri partners with Fronde to connect tribes around New Zealand

Ngai Tamanuhiri, a tribe (iwi) in Gisborne, has invested in a technology solution known as Iwi Connect to help tribal organisations communicate with members, preserve archival material and promote and revitalise Te Reo.

Mere Takoko, Ngai Tamanuhiri Trust, business development manager, says the trust needed a way to quickly communicate with members and hear opinions or share important information. They also needed a way to digitise and easily store and access archival material, some of which was being kept in a shipping container.

Ngai Tamauhiri partnered with Fronde, the technology company, to design and build a comprehensive database and archive important information about the iwi, its members and what matters to them.

Iwi Connect includes an iwi register solution, digital survey tool and voting system. It can be accessed with any computer, mobile or smart device.

Paul Armstrong, Fronde, chief information officer, says, "Fronde designed and built a smart cloud based solution that has helped nurture existing relationships between all members and friends of the iwi, wherever they are, connect with new friends and whanau, and strengthen tribal identity.

Mere Takoko says, "Since adopting the technology, the tribe has developed a far greater understanding of how iwi members are connected to each other and other iwi.

"The tribe can now securely adopt campaigns and announce important events, share business opportunities and interact with iwi members, friends and users. It also has vital communication tools to meet its legal obligations to manage assets on behalf of the iwi," she says.

Takoko says membership engagement has grown from 25% to 95% since members could have direct input.

"We now have a better idea of who we are and what resources we have within the iwi. We also now spend a fraction of the time and money we used to spend on administration and far more time directly engaging and communicating with iwi members," she says.

Takoko says Ngai Tamanuhiri is encouraging other iwi around New Zealand to adopt this technology so they can communicate with tribal members around the world, revitalise the Marae and focus on key projects.