Māori Fintech

03/06/2026

Just a quick follow up from our last related post that opens the curtain a wee bit more on how Aotearoa has been bleeding $1b+ annually in payment fees🤙

02/06/2026

Admittedly, a slog to get to this point but we've been meticulous and thorough. Not long now Aotearoa❗

28/05/2026

25/05/2026

In April 📅 we lodged an urgent application with the Waitangi Tribunal (Wai 3564) concerning the absence of Māori governance in the design of New Zealand’s digital currency framework.

Yesterday, the Tribunal released its decision. Urgency was declined.

However, the record now confirms three important points:

1️⃣ The Crown told the Tribunal the project is “currently dormant, and no further work is planned.”

It is useful to now have that statement formally on record.

After filing our claim, we wrote to the Reserve Bank requesting further detail on the Financial Services Annex (Annex 8A) of the India Free Trade Agreement, finalised in December 2025. Annex 8A commits Aotearoa to the in-depth study, design and implementation of central bank digital currency alongside another government.

Most people would not describe a project linked to international treaty commitments as “dormant.”

The Reserve Bank has not yet replied to our email, despite the RBNZ advising the Tribunal it would contact us directly should work continue.

2️⃣ Three interested parties stood alongside our application.
We acknowledge and thank:
* Turehou Māori Wardens
* Ōtāhuhu Māori Wardens
* Ngāti Torehina ki Mata-ure Ō Hau

Ngā mihi nui for your support - tautoko 🙏 💚

3️⃣ The Tribunal noted that the wider question of what digital currency means for Māori may be better addressed through the Economic Development kaupapa inquiry.

Given our limited resources, we will carefully consider the Tribunal’s recommendation amongst a number priorities we have over the coming weeks/months.

🎯 This kaupapa is far bigger than technology. It is about governance, participation, representation, and ensuring Māori are not designed out of the financial systems of the future.

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Mauri Ora! 🤙

25/05/2026

Morena! 🙃

We’ll be posting an update on our Waitangi Tribunal claim later this morning (around 10am ish) and there are a few gems in this one 💎

The way we see value, money, and financial systems today will not necessarily be how they look tomorrow. That much, we are certain of.

Over the months and years ahead, roll with us as we explore what’s possible for Aotearoa and the future of financial infrastructure.

Māori Fintech is here to help Aotearoa navigate the financial disruption ahead as we prepare to officially launch our first product/service designed to keep more value flowing through Aotearoa 🚀📅

Mauri Ora❗

18/05/2026

It’s been a wee while since our last update but we’ve been deeply focused on an important part of our kaupapa: understanding the benefits and risks of Digital Currencies (DCs), especially their potential impact on Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Māori sovereignty.
We have now lodged an urgent application with the Waitangi Tribunal (WAI 3564).
If you are a Māori lawyer, you may have already received correspondence from the Waitangi Tribunal regarding our application. We are asking for your support.
Why does this matter?
Because the decisions being made around digital currency infrastructure today could impact Māori and all of Aotearoa in ways many people have not yet considered including governance, data sovereignty, programmability, economic participation, and future control over value exchange.
Take a look through the layers we’ve outlined and decide for yourself 🧐

23/04/2026

With Annette Sykes – I just got recognised as one of their top fans! 🎉

03/03/2026

Engagement with the right stakeholder(s) is now underway.
These discussions take time, and focus.

Building fintech infrastructure isn’t a campaign.
It’s structured, regulatory, governance-heavy work.

We’ll be concentrating on the mahi at hand and will not be posting until we have answers.

Mauri Ora‼️

25/02/2026

We’ve shared a number of posts outlining how digital currency frameworks could impact Te Tiriti once implemented in Aotearoa.

This isn’t about noise.
It’s about alignment.

If you sit on a board, lead an iwi, or have regulatory access...
help ensure Māori are at the governance table of digital currency use in Aotearoa, not just in consultation.

We have secured three highly experienced governance leaders.
A major stakeholder meeting is already being arranged.

Māori Fintech brings deep technical banking experience from offshore implementations.
We build indigenous financial technology rails.🚂

Now we are strengthening governance to ensure our kaupapa is protected and positioned.🎯

If you can influence this space, reach out.✋

Mauri ora‼️

24/02/2026

We've worked on digital & neo banks offshore.
I’ve personally seen how fast financial infrastructure changes.
Once the rules are set — they’re hard to unwind.
If Māori governance isn’t embedded at design stage…
We’re reacting for the next 50 years.