Consultancy. Community. Movement.
Embedding Indigenous knowledge into health systems and data futures.
Consultancy. Community. Movement.
Embedding Indigenous knowledge into health systems and data futures.
Who we are
Aho Ira works with universities, iwi, hospitals, and health services to embed Indigenous knowledge into health systems, reclaim data sovereignty, and design solutions that honour whānau voices.
• Guided by Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• Grounded in kaupapa Māori
• Focused on Indigenous sovereignty
Our mahi is guided by Te Tiriti o Waitangi, kaupapa Māori values, and strong governance processes ensuring accountability, impact, and equity.
Curriculum & Training
Building knowledge and capability across the Indigenous health workforce.
• Design Indigenous health curricula aligned to accreditation and workforce standards
• Deliver cultural safety training with measurable competencies
• Develop workforce pathways to grow and retain Māori health professionals
System Redesign
Reimagining services to centre whānau and unify care across systems.
• Develop whānau navigator hubs and one-stop booking systems to end fragmented care
• Create integrated service models across hospitals, pharmacies, and kaupapa Māori providers
• Evaluate and scale kaupapa Māori services to secure long-term investment and funding
Data & Digital Solutions
Transforming information into tools for Indigenous sovereignty and action.
• Build dashboards and disaggregated reports showing real-time Māori vs non-Māori outcomes
• Establish Indigenous data sovereignty frameworks and reclamation strategies
• Deliver telehealth projects including devices, data coaching, and digital literacy support
• Lead VR and digital taonga projects to restore language and cultural knowledge
Movement Building
Driving collective change through policy, partnerships, and Indigenous leadership.
• Support Indigenous-led policy change and legislative reform for data reclamation
• Strengthen international Indigenous alliances (Aotearoa, Turtle Island, Canada)
• Back rangatahi-led innovation, digital storytelling, and leadership development
What we offer
Our Approach
Engage. Co-design. Deliver. A kaupapa-Māori process grounded in Te Tiriti.
Engage
We start by listening to whānau and partners.
• Hui, wānanga, and whakawhanaungatanga to centre whānau voices
• Map aspirations, pain points, and priorities together
• Confirm scope, roles, tikanga, and success measures up front
Co-Design
We build solutions with — not for — communities.
• Co-design curricula, data tools, and service models with partners
• Prototype, iterate, and test for usability and cultural fit
• Align to Te Tiriti, equity frameworks, and accreditation standards
Deliver
We implement, measure, and sustain impact.
• Implementation plans, training, and onboarding for teams
• Monitoring, dashboards, and regular learning reviews
• Handover, upskilling, and sustainability/funding pathways
Why It Matters
Practical wins for institutions, clinicians, and iwi.
Hospitals & Doctors
Stronger cultural safety, better trust, better outcomes.
• Practical training with measurable competencies
• Integrated models that reduce fragmentation for patients
• Dashboards that track Māori vs non Māori outcomes in real time
Institutions
Clear equity reporting and measurable results aligned to your strategy.
• Meet equity frameworks and audit requirements
• Distinct Māori reporting that makes gaps visible and actionable
• Tools and training that lift capability across teams
Iwi & Communities
Data and services that reflect whānau priorities and control.
• Reclaim data and set your own indicators of success
• Evaluate and scale kaupapa Māori services for long term investment
• Support rangatahi led innovation and local leadership
Our Track Record
Council of Medical Colleges
National Cultural Safety Training Plan aligned to Te Tiriti.
Aho Ira supported the Council of Medical Colleges to embed measurable cultural safety competencies across all medical colleges, strengthening clinician capability and Māori health outcomes.
ACC
“My Home is My Marae” kaupapa Māori evaluation.
Delivered a whānau-centred framework that demonstrated what works in preventing harm and promoting safety through kaupapa Māori practices.
Ministry of Health
Suicide Prevention Action Plan Engagement.
Facilitated 16+ targeted wānanga with Māori health providers and communities, ensuring national policy was shaped by whānau voices and lived experience.
CureKids
Māori tamariki respiratory health research.
Co-designed a kaupapa Māori research approach blending whānau voice, mātauraka Māori, and data insights to improve outcomes for tamariki.
International Collaboration
VR language restoration project.
Partnered with Indigenous researchers across Aotearoa and Turtle Island to restore language and cultural expression through virtual reality and immersive storytelling.
Future Partnerships
Expanding the movement.
Continuing to grow partnerships that reclaim data sovereignty, strengthen Indigenous networks, and shape equitable digital health systems.
Aotearoa | New Zealand
Partners: Te Oriori Trust | Hokonui Runaka | Nga Taniwha o Murihiku.
Grounded in kaupapa Māori, connecting iwi, whānau, and digital creators to restore reo and reimagine health futures.
Turtle Island | Canada
Collaborations: Saskatchewan Polytechnic | Indigenous VR Labs | Youth Innovation Network.
Working alongside Indigenous researchers and innovators to advance VR, language restoration, and data sovereignty.
Global Vison
We are part of a global Indigenous movement reclaiming data, restoring reo, and reshaping health futures.