Hui Fono 2026

Keynote Speakers

Peter-Lucas Jones
Te Aupōuri, Ngāi Takoto, Te Rarawa 
CEO of Te Hiku Media

Peter-Lucas Jones is a visionary leader at the forefront of Māori language revitalisation through technology, and iwi media. As CEO of Te Hiku Media, he spearheads the development of cutting-edge te reo Māori natural language processing tools, including speech-to-text and text-to-speech systems, and Indigenous language pronunciation modelling transforming the digital landscape for Indigenous languages.
 
A passionate advocate for intergenerational language transmission, Indigenous data sovereignty, and AI-driven language data licensing, Peter-Lucas plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of Māori language use in the digital age. His expertise in corpus development and AI innovation has positioned Te Hiku Media as a global leader in Indigenous language technology.
 
Peter-Lucas was named to TIME Magazine’s 100 AI list for 2024, an achievement that underscores his impact on the global movement for Indigenous language preservation through artificial intelligence. This year, he was also honoured with the Te Tihi Award at the Tai Tokerau Māori Business Awards for his efforts in promoting Māori Data Sovereignty globally and leveraging AI to preserve language and culture. 
He holds key governance roles, including Chair of Te Rūnanga Nui o Te Aupōuri, Chair of Te Whakaruruhau o Ngā Reo Irirangi Māori, and Deputy Chair of Whakaata Māori.

At Hui Fono 2026, Peter-Lucas headlines as a keynote speaker and will also lead a masterclass. 

Keynote: What We Lose When a Language Disappears

Every two weeks, a language vanishes, taking with it an entire way of understanding the world. This talk reframes language loss not as inevitable decline, but as the predictable result of systemic bias. Drawing on work across iwi-radio and indigenous language AI contexts, it challenges deficit thinking and introduces a critical shift: language is infrastructure, and the key to traditional knowledge. It lives in homes, relationships, learning environments and decision-making spaces. When those conditions fail, language fades. When restored, language can live again. This session offers a new lens for understanding what language needs to survive and explores how systems, policies, and environments actively shape whether an indigenous language can thrive, revealing that loss is neither accidental nor inevitable. Te Reo Māori and its survival is an expression of resistance. 

Masterclass: Language Is Infrastructure: Designing Systems That Actually Work

Why do well-intentioned language initiatives so often fail to create lasting change? This interactive masterclass moves from insight to action, examining how funding models, governance structures, and delivery systems can unintentionally constrain the very language use they aim to support. Through guided discussion about data sovereignty and practical exercises using real-world scenarios, participants will explore where current systems misalign with community realities and how to consider alternative solutions. The session focuses on values and principles, shared authority models, and system-level interventions that take into account that data is a taonga. Living, community-owned Māori infrastructure offers an alternative to relying on large technology platforms to store data and deliver content to whānau. Learn about new approaches and clearer frameworks for designing initiatives where language is not merely stored, but actively lived, used, and able to flourish in everyday life. Kaitiakitanga of data is something we must all be aware of and responsible for.

Namulau'ulu Nu'uali'i Eteroa Lafaele is a Samoan technology leader advancing digital equity and artificial intelligence capability across Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific. Born and raised in Cannons Creek, Porirua, with roots in the villages of Fogapoa, Leulumoega Tuai, and Tafagamanu Lefaga, her commitment to community and service has shaped everything she has built since.

Eteroa studied Computer Science and worked as a Software Engineer before co-founding Fibre Fale in 2022, a purpose-led collective creating pathways for Pacific people in technology. She now serves as its Head of AI and Culture. She is also the author of the children's book Ete Fixes the Glitch, written to show young people they belong in technology as creators, not just consumers.

Her leadership has been widely recognised. Eteroa is the 2025 Young New Zealander of the Year, a Forbes 30 Under 30 honouree for Social Impact, and recipient of the Hi Tech NZ Young Achiever Award, Young IT Professional of the Year, and the Prime Minister's Award for STEM.

At Hui Fono 2026, Eteroa headlines as a keynote speaker and will also lead a masterclass. 

Keynote: Unseen to Unstoppable

Namulau'ulu Nu'uali'i Eteroa Lafaele is a leading voice in technology and AI here in Aotearoa, known for making complex ideas simple, human and grounded in our communities. Rooted in digital equity, she focuses on what is within our control, supporting our people to understand, engage with and shape technology in ways that reflect us. Tonight, she invites us beyond the hype and fear, and into clarity, confidence and collective action. Her work is shaped by her own journey into tech, moving from spaces where she was unseen to becoming someone helping others find their place within it. 

Masterclass: AI with Eteroa

It will be an eye-opening session exploring how artificial intelligence is reshaping the way we live, work and connect. We'll look at the real-world impacts of AI, the opportunities it creates and the important things to keep in mind as we navigate this rapidly changing landscape. From everyday tools to bigger picture thinking, you'll leave with a clearer understanding of what AI means for you, your family, and your community.

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