Hinerangi Hemara Haeana

Hinerangi's research is focused on reframing digital engineering and AI through Māori Governance

Iwi: Ngāti Raukawa Ki Te Tonga, Rangitāne O Manawatū, Uenuku, Tamahaki, Tamakana, Ngāti Tukorehe

Email: hinerangi.hemarahaeana@vuw.ac.nz

Supervisors: AProf Spencer Lilley, Prof Alex Richter and Dave Braendler

Profile:

Hinerangi is a PhD candidate researching the intersection of digital engineering, artificial intelligence (AI), Indigenous governance, and infrastructure systems. Her work takes a socio-technical systems approach, exploring how Māori data sovereignty, tikanga Māori, and Treaty-based principles can be embedded into the design, governance, and evaluation of digital systems to ensure they are ethical, resilient, and aligned with long-term community outcomes.

With over two decades of experience in information management and digital strategy across major infrastructure projects, Hinerangi brings deep practical expertise to her research. She serves as a technical specialist, leading digital governance, quality assurance, and asset information strategies on large-scale transport programmes. She is passionate about bridging the gap between technical delivery and Indigenous governance, developing frameworks that enable iwi and project partners to co-design, co-govern, and shape infrastructure systems that are both technically robust and culturally grounded.

Qualifications:

Executive master's in business administration (with Distinction), Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington

Research Interests:

• AI governance and ethical AI
• Indigenised systems engineering
• Digital engineering in infrastructure delivery
• Co-design and participatory governance with iwi
• Socio-technical system evaluation (technical + ethical performance)
• Transformation of institutional and procurement frameworks