Kaupapa Māori · Digital Transformation · Aotearoa

Weaving people,
culture &
technology

We help organisations turn digital ambition into real outcomes — strategy, delivery, and kaupapa Māori innovation for Aotearoa.

Kōrero mai Our work

What we stand for

Mana Whānau Innovation Kotahitanga Excellence Kaupapa Māori Digital sovereignty Real outcomes

Founded by BJ Walbaekken — 25+ years delivering digital transformation across enterprise, government, and kaupapa Māori environments.

5,000+
Participants reached
100+
Partner organisations
25+
Years delivering

What we do

Digital transformation
that actually sticks

We work across enterprise, government, and kaupapa Māori environments — bringing strategy, people, and technology together so change is understood, trusted, and embedded.

01
Digital strategy & advisory
Roadmaps and technology decisions aligned to your goals — not just the latest trend.
02
Programme delivery
From design through to delivery — managing complexity, people, and outcomes at scale.
03
Kaupapa Māori innovation
Digital solutions built on tikanga, grounded in community, designed for Māori data sovereignty.
04
Digital capability uplift
Building confidence and skills across organisations, whānau, and communities throughout Aotearoa.
05
Systems & platform design
Technology choices that fit your people and your purpose — not the other way around.
06
Executive & board advisory
Senior guidance that translates technology into language leaders and boards understand.

AI & Ancestral Intelligence

Technology meets
mātauranga Māori

Some of our people are calling it Ancestral Intelligence — the idea that AI holds the potential to reconnect, preserve, and amplify mātauranga Māori in ways we are only beginning to understand. We help organisations navigate this thoughtfully, cutting through the hype to find what is actually useful for your people and your purpose.

AI
Practical AI guidance
We are not here to sell you AI for the sake of it. We help you understand what tools are genuinely useful for your organisation — and which ones are not worth the hype.
TK
Tikanga-informed approach
AI in a Māori context raises real questions about data sovereignty, whakapapa, and who controls mātauranga. We bring those questions to the table — not as barriers, but as foundations for doing it right.
R
Backed by research
Our work is grounded in completed peer-reviewed research through Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga and the University of Waikato — exploring what kaupapa Māori digital platforms look and feel like for whānau.
Completed research · 2024–2025
Weaving Māori Hearts in the Digital Wharenui
Nurturing Whakawhanaungatanga Through a Kaupapa Māori Social Media Platform — Tōku Whānau
Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga · University of Waikato · BJ Walbaekken, Mana Digital
View research ↗

Our work

Built by us. Real outcomes.

National digital capability programme
Kia Kaha Digital

Designed and led a government-funded digital skills programme in partnership with DIA and Manaiakalani Education Trust — reaching whānau and communities across Aotearoa.

5,000+
Participants
100+
Partners
3
Streams
Kaupapa Māori digital platform
Tōku Whānau

Founded and built Tōku Whānau — a kaupapa Māori digital platform designed as a digital wharenui for whānau connection, reo, tikanga, and Māori data sovereignty.

400+
Users
Waikato Uni
Research partner
Regional Business Partner Network
Pakihi Māori

Helping Māori small business owners get digitally ahead — practical, funded digital advisory support delivered through the Regional Business Partner Network to lift capability and confidence across Māori businesses in Aotearoa.

RBP
Approved provider
SMEs
Māori businesses supported
Registered & recognised with
Amotai
Verified Māori & Pasifika owned business — supplier diversity Aotearoa
ICDL Global
Internationally recognised digital skills certification provider
RBP Network
Regional Business Partner Network approved provider
Callaghan
Callaghan Innovation Boost approved provider

About Mana Digital

"We lead with integrity and purpose — weaving people, culture and technology into digital futures that last."

Mana Digital was founded by BJ Walbaekken, a senior digital transformation leader with 25+ years across enterprise, government, and kaupapa Māori environments. We don't just deliver technology — we bring people on the journey.

Mana
We lead with integrity and purpose
Whānau
We empower people and communities
Innovation
We embrace change and create solutions
Kotahitanga
We work together as one
Excellence
We deliver with pride

Get in touch

Let's kōrero

Got a project, a problem, or just want to explore what's possible? Reach out — no hard sell, just an honest conversation.

bj@ManaDigital.kiwi
027 542 5242
Hamilton, Aotearoa New Zealand
LinkedIn — BJ Walbaekken
✓  Ngā mihi! Your message has been sent — BJ will be in touch soon.