🌟Register for FUTURE READY - Educators Event - Register HERE
🌟Register for FUTURE READY - Educators Event - Register HERE
Preparing Māori & Pasifika Learners for an AI Future
Artificial Intelligence is shaping the future of education, work, and everyday life. Our young people deserve opportunities to understand, navigate, and thrive in this rapidly changing world.
Future Ready: AI for Māori & Pasifika Educators is a one-day professional learning experience designed to equip educators with the confidence, tools, and practical strategies to introduce AI in meaningful, culturally grounded ways.
Hosted by Lālanga and Brian Sagala, this conference brings together educators, school leaders, and technology experts to explore how AI can be used safely, responsibly, and creatively within classrooms and communities.
Through practical workshops, industry insights from Google and Microsoft, and ready-to-use Lālanga ToolBox AI resources, educators will gain practical knowledge and classroom-ready tools to support future-focused learning.
This conference is designed to help educators:
Build confidence in understanding what AI is and why it matters
Explore practical AI tools for classroom teaching and learning
Learn safe and responsible AI practices for schools
Prepare students for future pathways, careers, and opportunities
Engage Māori and Pasifika learners through relevant and culturally grounded experiences
Strengthen confidence in teaching future-focused digital skills
Together, we can help create a future where Māori and Pasifika learners are not only consumers of technology, but creators, innovators, and leaders.
Event Program
Meet your presenters and host
Lesieli Oliver
Founder of Lālanga & The Lālanga ToolBox | Educator | Curriculum Designer | Speaker | Community leader | BA (Politics) | Masters in Technological Futures | Masters in Engineering (Current)
Founder of Lālanga & The Lālanga ToolBox, Educator, Speaker, and Community leader passionate about empowering Māori and Pasifika learners through culturally responsive and future-focused education. Lesieli specialises in taking complex learning concepts and transforming them into engaging, culturally relevant classroom lessons, enabling teachers tp deliver meaningful and accessible learning experiences for all students.
Daniel Oliver
Co-founder of Lālanga & The Lālanga ToolBox | Educator | AI & Technology Specialist (20+ years) | Speaker | Community Leader | Microsoft Certified in AI, Cyber Security & Cloud Technologies | B.Engineering | MBA | Masters in Technological Futures | Masters in Artificial Intelligence
Co-Founder of Lālanga and AI & Technology Specialist with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. Daniel specialises in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation, with a passion for helping schools and organisations understand the opportunities and challenges of emerging technologies.
Dr Guy bate
Guy is Thematic Lead for Artificial Intelligence and Director of the Master of Business Development (MBusDev) programme at the University of Auckland Business School, and Chair of the AI in Education Technology Stewardship Group for EdTechNZ. With over 20 years of international experience across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and health technology, he specialises in AI, strategy, innovation, and technology commercialisation. Guy is a leading advocate for the thoughtful use of AI in education, focusing on student engagement, personalised learning, and reflective practice. He is a frequent speaker and workshop facilitator and holds PhDs in Management and Biomedicine.
Ma’a Brian Sagala
Community leader, speaker, and passionate advocate for empowering Māori and Pasifika communities through education, leadership, and connection. Brian brings energy, authenticity, and inspiration as MC for the conference, helping create a welcoming and engaging, Pasifika experience for all attendees.
About Lālanga
Founded in 2020 by Lesieli Oliver, Lālanga was launched through the Pacific COVID Innovation Fund and commissioned by the Ministry of Education to help improve engagement, wellbeing, achievement, and attendance for Māori and Pasifika children, impacted by the challenges of Covid. What began as a mentoring programme supporting one Auckland high school, has grown into a nationwide movement delivering curriculum , advocacy, research, teacher professional development, and innovative learning experiences that have impacted over 20,000 young people across Aotearoa. Lesieli understands first hand, the challenges Māori and Pasifika children face. Through the power of education she has escaped the poverty cycle, and now dedicates her life to empowering Māori and Pasifika children. In 2023 Lesieli completed a Masters degree, researching the challenges impacting Māori and Pasifika children, and the digital tools we can use to enable them. Today, Lālanga continues to expand its vision by supporting not only schools and teachers, but also families and communities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions? We’ve answered some of the most common questions about the conference, registration, payments, and what to expect on the day.
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Lālanga has worked with schools, teachers, families, and communities across Aotearoa to create engaging, culturally responsive learning experiences and practical educational resources aligned with the New Zealand Curriculum.
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Currently, Lālanga is not a registered Ministry of Education PLD provider. However, this is more reflective of Ministry processes and pathways than our ability to deliver high-quality professional learning. Lālanga has been funded by the Ministry of Education to deliver events, educational solutions, and curriculum-aligned resources that support schools, teachers, families, and communities across Aotearoa. Our work focuses on creating engaging, culturally responsive, and future-focused learning experiences that empower both educators and learners.
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The Lālanga ToolBox is a ready-to-use educational resource platform designed to support teachers with engaging lessons, activities, and culturally grounded learning experiences.
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No. This conference is designed for beginners through to experienced educators interested in learning more about AI in education.
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The conference focuses on culturally responsive, future-focused learning designed to empower Māori and Pasifika learners through practical and engaging AI education.
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Yes. The Lālanga ToolBox AI lessons are designed to align with the New Zealand Curriculum and support meaningful student learning outcomes.