Whales off Rarotonga

The initiative

ĀIO AI & Ocean Gathering

The word ĀIO communicates the journey towards ‘restoring balance’ while also expressing the interconnectedness of AI & Ocean.

Throughout Te Moananui-a-Kiwa, cultural preservation involves protecting what has been inherited while also harnessing opportunities for future innovation. ĀIO provides an opportunity to do both.

“As cultural creators we harness technology, spirit, science and art, drawing energy and guidance from the environment around us.” Te Urungi Innovation Fund, Manatū Taonga Ministry for Culture and Heritage

As fundraising lead, it is my pleasure to invite you to consider supporting ĀIO as a co-funding partner.

There are three funding options available. The experience at each location provides a level of connection to community and culture that is not always available. I hope you enjoy learning more about this gathering, this opportunity and the ecosystem members.

Please let me know if you require any further information.

Meitaki ma'ata

Savannah Petero-Solomona

Savannah Petero-Solomona wearing an ei katu of flowers and an ei of leaves.
Savannah Petero-Solomona
Mara.Earth
Aboard the vaka, sailing in to Rarotonga

Who will gather?

The Pacific Region ecosystem is a collective of 21 committed individuals representing 9 island nations and a base population of 18 million people. Each person brings a working practice into the room.

Click here to learn about each member of the ecosystem

DelegationHost · Rarotonga

Co-funding options

One gathering

Three curated co-funding options for your consideration

Option 01

Rarotonga

Rarotonga is the largest of the Cook Islands, a nation of 15 islands in the central South Pacific.

Funding sought NZD

$98,543.50

Rarotonga, 6 nights

All inclusive

Aerial view of Rarotonga: the lagoon, motu and reef along the coast.

Kūki ʻĀirani

Rarotonga

Rarotonga provides a warm pacific welcome to every person attending the gathering. Rarotonga has the facilities to allow for air conditioned meeting rooms and shared-stay accommodation that allows everyone to share breakfast together before starting their day.

This is where everyone will meet in-person and share projects. This is where the cross-pollination will start to take place and trust will be established.

There is global interest in the Pacific Ocean as it contains vast deposits of polymetallic nodules rich in critical green-technology metals. The ecosystem has the opportunity to consider how AI tools can serve the community and the critical issues they are facing.

Option 02

Rarotonga and Maʻuke

Mauke is an outer island in the Cook Islands. It is a 50-minute flight east of Rarotonga. Originally named Akatokamanava ("the place where my heart rested") it is now called Mauke ("Land of Uke").

Funding sought NZD

$112,397.25

Rarotonga, 6 nights · Maʻuke, 3 nights

All inclusive

Aerial view of Rarotonga: the lagoon, motu and reef along the coast.

Kūki ʻĀirani

Rarotonga

A sea cave on Maʻuke: clear turquoise water over limestone, a person standing waist-deep.

Kūki ʻĀirani

Maʻuke

Maʻuke provides an exclusive opportunity for the ecosystem to stay on a remote island where the population is less than 300 and contribute to a vision that is in pre-concept phase.

Sunrise Labs seeks to build a campus that will enable young people in the Cook Islands to learn tech, AI, IoT, sustainability and climate resilience. Tech as a tool for young people to be able to build a future while remaining on their traditional lands, immersed in their practices and traditions.

Every person will spend time in the Maʻuke community, they will visit sites of planned regenerative agriculture, gather and consider tools that would be most helpful and input into a ground zero tech project that has endless opportunities for scale and open-sourced learnings.

Option 03

Te Kao, Rarotonga and Maʻuke

Te Kao is the traditional and spiritual home (tūrangawaewae) for the people of Te Aupōuri in the Far North of Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Funding sought NZD

$183,093.50

Rarotonga, 6 nights · Maʻuke, 3 nights · Te Kao, 3 nights

All inclusive

Delegates seated together around a long table in a working session.

Aotearoa

Te Kao

Te Hiku Media is trusted because their approach means that we can see how the data was made, who made it, why they made it, how they made it, and the principles and values they stand by. Te Hiku Media have ushered in a new generation of speech tools to empower Māori to ensure their language has a place in the digital world. They drafted the Kaitiakitanga Licence that ensures they maintain accountability, and protect and take responsibility for the data.

Over three days, we are invited to stay on their marae, spend time learning from their team and cross-pollinating ideas. This is an exclusive opportunity to share intimate space and time.

Aerial view of Rarotonga: the lagoon, motu and reef along the coast.

Kūki ʻĀirani

Rarotonga

A sea cave on Maʻuke: clear turquoise water over limestone, a person standing waist-deep.

Kūki ʻĀirani

Maʻuke

Note: the funding amounts sought for Option 2 and Option 3 have been reduced by $50,000.00 due to committed funding from Current AI.

What co-funding does

A first-of-its-kind ecosystem approach.

  1. Breaks the silos

    Ends isolated building across nine nations. Restores communication, collaboration and the free flow of what works.

  2. Cross-pollinates

    Trusted skills and expertise shared across the Pacific region, building tangible outcomes together.

  3. Innovates with deep care

    Frugal AI, people of place, tools matched to real problems where impact must be positive. Auditable, not aspirational.

  4. Builds digital sovereignty

    A smaller, faster-moving ecosystem host, shifting the region away from reliance on platforms it does not control.

Maʻuke Tech Academy · tamariki on laptops

Who is hosting?

Host The first gathering will be hosted by Mara.Earth founded by Savannah Petero-Solomona, with Current AI.
Fiscal host Te Pu a Nga Maara Charitable Trust and Te Hapai Ō.

In order to responsibly receive funding and lead initiatives Mara.Earth was created. The back office host is Te Hapai Ō and the Charitable Trust is Te Pu a Nga Maara. Mara.Earth now exists to support important initiatives such as this gathering.

Thank you for your time and energy.
Ngā manaakitanga.