Māori-led UAV, AI & digital futures
Te Rere Ao, The Digital Flight Trust builds pathways for rangatahi, whānau, kura, marae and communities to access drones, digital media, AI, XR, storytelling and emerging technologies, grounded in tikanga Māori, te reo Māori and whakapapa.
Kaupapa
Te Rere Ao, The Digital Flight Trust is a Rotorua-based charitable trust created to empower Māori communities through equitable access to drone technology, digital media and emerging technologies.
Our work sits at the meeting point of mātauranga Māori and future industry, where rangatahi can learn by doing, whānau can access new tools, kura and marae can strengthen capability, and indigenous stories can be protected and shared using the technologies shaping the next generation.
To uplift and empower Māori through digital platforms, preserving te reo me ngā tikanga, strengthening whakapapa, and fostering tino rangatiratanga in the digital world.
To empower Māori by leading digital innovation grounded in whakapapa, te reo Māori and tikanga, opening pathways to tino rangatiratanga in the digital age.
Values
Care, respect and support for whānau, learners, partners and communities.
Relationship-led learning, collaboration and long-term community trust.
Responsible innovation that protects whenua, stories, data and future generations.
Māori leadership, ownership and agency in technology and digital systems.
What we do
Culturally grounded drone training pathways, including Part 101 and Part 102 awareness, flight planning, safety, aerial cinematography, FPV systems and drone innovation.
Hands-on learning experiences for rangatahi across drones, coding, game design, digital media, AI tools, XR, robotics and creative technology.
Digital storytelling, oral history, whakapapa and iwi narrative projects that help record, store and share mātauranga safely and respectfully.
Support for under-resourced whānau, kura and communities through digital equipment, mobile learning units, software access and capability building.
Development of Māori-led media, animation, interactive tools, drone content, pūrākau-based digital experiences and emerging production workflows.
Partnerships, innovation challenges, expos and fellowships that connect Māori innovation with indigenous and global technology leaders.
Technology ecosystem
Drone operations, FPV systems, mapping and aerial innovation.
AI tools, automation, indigenous data systems and future workflows.
Immersive storytelling, virtual production and interactive cultural experiences.
Preserving whakapapa, reo and mātauranga through modern media systems.
Large-scale aerial storytelling and environmentally responsible live experiences.
Māori-led approaches to future technology and digital sovereignty.
The future we see
We see rangatahi designing autonomous systems, filming with FPV drones, mapping whenua with care, building indigenous AI tools, preserving whakapapa through digital archives, and carrying Māori stories into immersive worlds that our mokopuna can inherit with pride.
2025–2028 strategic focus
Te Rere Ao is designed to move communities from digital exclusion into digital confidence, then into digital leadership. The goal is not just to teach technology, it is to help Māori communities own, shape and lead the systems that will define the future.
Pathway model
Remove barriers to equipment, internet, tools, mentors and safe learning environments.
Deliver practical wānanga in UAV operations, digital production, coding, AI, XR and creative tech.
Support learners to build projects, tell stories, map whenua, capture content and solve local problems.
Grow Māori innovators, pilots, creators, developers, entrepreneurs and indigenous technology leaders.
Who this is for
Your support helps purchase equipment, deliver wānanga, fund scholarships, build digital access and create measurable Māori tech outcomes.
Te Rere Ao creates safe, future-focused learning opportunities where rangatahi can gain confidence, skills and real career direction.
We partner with kura, schools and learning providers to bring drones, media, AI and digital storytelling into culturally grounded education.
We support digital preservation, mapping, storytelling, capability building and technology pathways that serve local priorities.
Training & Employment Pathways
We create dedicated training and employment pathways for rangatahi who are currently underrepresented in the drone innovation, AI development, and technology spaces. Our programmes combine cultural grounding with practical skills, ensuring sustainable careers in emerging industries.
In-Action
Drone Wānanga
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Governance & leadership
Founding Trustee, Chairperson & Director of UAV Innovation
(Ngāti Porou / Te Ātiawa / Rangitāne)
George Jordan is a veteran broadcast technician, filmmaker, UAV innovator, and Māori technology advocate with nearly three decades of experience across television, live production, drone operations, and digital storytelling.
His career began in radio before moving into national broadcasting, where he became known for his work in technical direction, multicam production, lighting, vision switching, and live event broadcasting for major New Zealand networks including Whakaata Māori, TVNZ, TV3, Sky Sport, Trackside NZ, and numerous independent productions.
Alongside his broadcasting career, George developed a strong focus on emerging technologies, becoming a Civil Aviation Authority Part 102 Licensed UAV Operator and recognised FPV drone pilot under the name OmenFPV. As a founding trustee of Te Rere Ao, George leads the Trust’s UAV innovation strategy, drone education pathways, technology infrastructure, and digital capability development.
Co-Chair & Board Member
(Te Arawa / Ngāti Tūwharetoa / Tainui)
Lilly Jordan brings more than 25 years of creative, strategic and governance leadership across film, television, digital media, indigenous storytelling and Māori land-based kaupapa to her role as Co-Chair and Board Member of Te Rere Ao.
Her work connects authentic indigenous storytelling with world-class technological innovation, helping ensure that emerging tools are used to protect cultural assets, strengthen regional capability and create meaningful pathways for future generations.
As the co-owner and Managing Director of Natives On Screen Productions, Lilly is a marketing and storytelling leader who has produced major broadcast and digital campaigns for television networks, corporate brands and government agencies.
Her portfolio includes producing and directing high-profile content for Whakaata Māori, TVNZ and Sky Sport, leading digital transformation work at Te Puia, producing Te Matatini content, and directing Poi Stories, the international rugby documentary series following the Black Ferns.
Lilly specialises in managing complex, high-stakes productions and navigating senior stakeholder relationships with integrity, cultural awareness and clear strategic direction.
In 2024, she co-founded Te Rere Ao to bridge traditional storytelling with future-focused industries, building sustainable training and workforce pipelines that support rangatahi Māori into high-growth sectors including unmanned aerial systems, drone cinematography and automated technologies.
Alongside her media career, Lilly brings strong governance experience as an active committee member for Āpumoana Marae and as a trustee across multiple whenua and whānau trusts, including the Rotomahana Parekarangai 6J2B3 Trust.
Through this work, she contributes to papakāinga housing development, iwi engagement, long-term asset management and indigenous trust accountability. She is also undertaking legal studies with a focus on Māori land law, further strengthening her commitment to responsible governance and intergenerational outcomes.
Founding Trustee & Cultural / Creative Operations Director
(Raukawa / Ngāpuhi / Ngāti Hinerangi-Tāwhaki)
Byron Toki Thompson is a cultural advisor, a passionate Māori language advocate with a staunch tikanga background who brings a wealth of experience in Māori tourism, film production, live events, storytelling, and drone operations.
His versatile work spans television, Māori performing arts, and kaupapa Māori creative development, with a dedicated focus on protecting and showcasing indigenous narratives through innovative media platforms.
With a profound understanding of tikanga Māori, the Māori language, and indigenous creative practices, Byron combines practical skills in production coordination, lighting, set operations, and drone ground crew management.
Recognized for his talent in blending traditional knowledge with modern creative expression, Byron plays a vital role in ensuring cultural integrity is preserved within technology and innovation projects.
As a founding trustee of Te Rere Ao, he leads cultural and creative initiatives across the Trust’s programmes, championing kaupapa Māori engagement, rangatahi mentorship, creative development, and integrating mātauranga Māori into digital storytelling and tech education.
Treasurer & Marae Trustee
(Ngāti Whakaue / Tūhourangi / Ngāti Wāhiao / Tapuika)
Leonie McMahon serves as Treasurer and Marae Trustee for Āpumoana Marae, bringing more than two decades of senior leadership experience across community sectors, education, and financial operations.
Leonie’s leadership values are grounded in collective decision-making, integrity, and sustainable community development. Her career includes managing large-scale operational budgets, auditing financial compliance, and leading regional training frameworks while building strong stakeholder relationships.
Leonie holds qualifications in real estate, small business management, and te reo Māori, giving her a strong combination of asset-management expertise and culturally responsive practice.
As a dedicated kaitiaki and active committee member, she is deeply committed to protecting the legacy and operational excellence of the marae for future generations.
Trustee & UAV Technology Advisor
(CEO, EnviCo Tech)
Cameron Baker is the Chief Executive Officer of Invico Tech, a Tauranga-based drone technology company specialising in advanced aerial solutions for pest control and environmental management.
Cameron brings extensive commercial expertise and technical leadership to the unmanned aerial systems sector, driving innovation to solve complex environmental challenges across the region.
Under his leadership, Invico Tech has developed specialised operational capabilities using advanced drone technologies to deliver precise, efficient, and data-driven pest eradication and land-management solutions.
His work bridges emerging technology with primary industry needs, maintaining high standards of operational safety, environmental compliance, and regional biosecurity.
Cameron’s focus on precision robotics and automated flight applications makes him a key collaborator within New Zealand’s drone innovation ecosystem, helping develop sustainable technology solutions that support both environmental protection and community innovation.
Trust & accountability
Support the mission
Donations, sponsorships, equipment support, partnerships and programme funding help Te Rere Ao deliver practical technology pathways for rangatahi, whānau, kura, marae and communities.
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