PĀNUI
NEWS
UN Women in Leadership Summit 2026.
27 / 02 / 2026
Our Marketing Kaimahi recently attended the Marketing Association's Brainy Breakfast workshop to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) might support our mahi here at He Waka Tapu.
The kōrero focused on how AI is influencing the online world and how people are finding it harder to trust the information placed in front of them. With so much automated content being created, it raised meaningful questions for us about how our kaupapa and our whānau are represented in digital spaces.
One of the key issues discussed was the rise of low-quality automated content, often referred to as "AI slop." This kind of material fills online platforms and can drown out genuine, community-led voices. The presenters also spoke about the increasing spread of misinformation, which can happen quickly when AI tools misunderstand context or cultural meaning. For organisations like ours, where accuracy, care and cultural understanding matter deeply, this has a direct impact. Misinformation can confuse or mislead whānau who are looking for support, and that is something we take seriously.
At the same time, we could see real potential for AI to support our internal processes. Tools that reduce admin and paperwork can free up more time for our kaimahi to focus on whakawhanaungatanga and the genuine needs of our whai ora. AI may also help us identify barriers that aren't always visible, offering insights into the journeys our whai ora take and where the system may unintentionally slow them down.
"Keeping our stories human-led and reflective of our community's strengths."
To use these tools responsibly, we are developing tikanga-based guidelines for how AI will be used at He Waka Tapu. These will help protect privacy, cultural and data sovereignty, and mana motuhake.
Technology will never replace the relationships, care and lived experience that guide our mahi, but it can support us when used thoughtfully. Keeping our stories human-led and reflective of our community's strengths was reinforced at the workshop as one of the most trustworthy ways for organisations to present themselves, both to people and to the AI systems that influence what gets seen online.
The workshop reminded us that AI may be helpful, but it is not the leader in our space. It can support us to remove barriers and improve access, but it cannot replace real kōrero or the connections our kaimahi build with our whai ora.
Our mahi continues to be shaped by our people, our values and our relationships, with AI only ever playing a supporting role where it aligns with who we are.
