Description:

For generations, Māori landowners have faced deep systemic challenges — from fragmented information and complex legislation to mistrust in institutional tools. Matarau is a digital platform built from the ground up to empower tangata whenua with the knowledge, clarity, and confidence to make informed decisions about their whenua.

Designed with and for Māori, it transforms complex land-use data into a guided, accessible experience grounded in kaupapa Māori values. It’s not just a tool — it’s a pathway to reclaiming agency and intergenerational tino rangatiratanga: self-determination and authority over one’s land and future.

The vision behind Matarau is bold: enable Māori landowners to explore the potential of their whenua on their own terms — with tools that reflect their aspirations, not institutional priorities.

Where other platforms require logins, data-sharing, or insider knowledge, Matarau asks nothing but curiosity. It removes barriers by being mobile-first, account-free, and jargon-free — designed for use on the whenua, in hui, or around the kitchen table.

The strategy was simple but powerful: build a tool that feels like it belongs to the people who use it.

Matarau was designed to meet Māori landowners where they are — on their whenua, with whānau, and often navigating decisions without formal support. The user experience is intentionally welcoming, intuitive, and empowering. Every interaction is shaped to reduce barriers, build trust, and support decision-making that aligns with tikanga and whānau aspirations.

Matarau is built around real-world needs:

• No land title number? No problem. Users can browse, search by location, or draw directly on a map to find their whenua.

• A step-by-step “Explore Your Options” tool walks users through identifying their goals, assessing where they’re at, and seeing land-use options that match their priorities — all without pressure, time limits, or data collection.

• Clear explanations of environmental, economic, and land suitability data follow — presented in accessible, plain-language formats.

Progress can be saved via a shareable link or exported as a PDF to support whānau kōrero and collective decision-making.

Matarau pairs strong technical execution with a clean, culturally grounded interface. Every design decision was made to foster trust — from transparent navigation and clear data sourcing to ensuring all land-use options are visible.

The interface is responsive and optimised for mobile, recognising that many users will access the platform on the whenua or in hui settings. Visual storytelling supports comprehension, helping users compare complex information with ease. The aesthetic is calm and respectful — reinforcing the mana of the user and the significance of the decisions they’re making.

Matarau challenges the conventional model for data-driven tools by replacing form-heavy dashboards with a values-led, user-guided journey. Instead of filtering users into narrow outputs, Matarau opens up pathways. Inspirational stories help whānau envision what’s possible.

What sets Matarau apart is its foundation: shaped around user aspirations, tikanga, and lived realities — not institutional requirements.

Matarau is more than a tool. It’s a companion — walking alongside Māori, offering not just data, but the mana and confidence to act.