This presentation explores how Māori values and data sovereignty can reshape our approach to library systems and cultural stewardship.

Through stories from the journey of Koha, the world's first open source library management system (born in Aotearoa), we explore examples of technology embodying kaupapa Māori principles including:

• Manaakitanga through its open source sharing model

• Kaitiakitanga in managing cultural materials

• Whanaungatanga through its global community

• Tino rangatiratanga by enabling local control

Our kōrero weaves together:

• The origins of Koha and its community-sustained development

• Practical examples of how libraries are using Koha to support Māori data sovereignty

• Ways libraries are using Koha to support the revitalisation of te reo Māori and cultural resurgence

• Opportunities for Māori communities to shape future library technology

This presentation explores how the intersection of the Koha open source community, kaupapa Māori, and Māori data sovereignty creates pathways for:

• Community-controlled infrastructure

• Protection of mātauranga Māori

• Appropriate sharing protocols

• Sustainable technological development

• Māori technological leadership

By grounding library systems in Māori values and data sovereignty principles, we can create technology that better enables us to serve our communities.

Aleisha Amohia (Te Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi, Ngāti Maru, Ngāti Hāua, Cambodia, India) is a Technical Lead and Software Developer at Catalyst IT. She has worked with open source library and collections platforms since 2014. Her role has encompassed many responsibilities, from development to DevOps, as well as consulting and presenting around Aotearoa and overseas. Aleisha is passionate about open source software, data sovereignty, technology for good, and online safety, and regularly weaves these threads into her work. Aleisha is an advocate for gender justice and Indigenous rights, and holds roles with the National Council of Women, Innovative Young Minds, and Tūhura Tech.

Chris Cormack (Kāi Tahu, Waitaha, Kāti Māmoe) is Kaihuawaere Matihiko at Catalyst IT in Wellington. He has a BSc in Computer Science and a BA in Mathematics and Māori Studies. He was the lead developer of the original version of Koha, an open source, fully featured, scalable library management system, and is passionate about the intersection of technology and Indigenous knowledge.