Success Story

Creating Kākaho: A digital tribal register for Te Nehenehenui

Te Nehenehenui, a post-settlement entity representing the Maniapoto iwi, wanted to digitise its tribal register and grants platform. Working together, we developed Kākaho, a custom, open-source solution that empowers the organisation to manage its data efficiently and serve its community.

Services

  • Application Development
  • Digital Consultancy

Deliverables

  • Application Hosting & Management
  • Custom Systems & Integration
  • App Development & Modernisation
  • Technology Advisory
  • Business Analysis

Based in New Zealand's King Country, Te Nehenehenui is a post-settlement organisation representing the Maniapoto iwi. For Te Nehenehenui, the tribal register is their most important asset; it is a critical record of all members of the Maniapoto iwi. The register supports funding applications, identifies and connects with iwi members, facilitates community participation, and helps its people connect with their whānau whānui, marae, and iwi. By keeping accurate and up-to-date information on members' whakapapa and contact details, Te Nehenehenui can efficiently distribute resources and support its community with targeted programs, such as grants or scholarships.

Managing their existing tribal register presented Te Nehenehenui's team with many difficulties. The existing paper-based system and manually curated database were inefficient, making the process of gathering and reviewing new registrations time-consuming. Data security and accessibility were also challenging due to the use of local server storage. While proprietary solutions can be adapted, they usually come with high license subscription fees and may not align with iwi data sovereignty goals.


Our approach

  • 01

    A custom solution for data sovereignty

    To address Te Nehenehenui's specific needs, we embarked on a collaborative journey to design and develop a custom digital solution: Kākaho. Named after the reed to symbolise the interconnectedness of the Maniapoto iwi, the platform was conceived as an open-source alternative to proprietary systems. This strategic decision was made to ensure Te Nehenehenui would have complete control and ownership over their data, aligning perfectly with their data sovereignty goals.

  • 02

    Rapid, cost-effective development

    We used open-source technologies, Laravel and Filament, to create Kākaho. These modern frameworks streamlined development by using pre-built components, which reduced costs and accelerated the time to market. This approach allowed us to rapidly build the core platform and its user-friendly web portal.

  • 03

    Building the digital tribal register

    The initial build focused on the tribal register itself. Kākaho streamlines the registration process, and once submitted, registrations are processed and stored in a centralised database. The platform incorporates robust access controls, allowing authorised users, such as the Whakapapa Committee, to securely manage data, review evidence, and approve new members or trustees, significantly reducing administrative burden.

  • 04

    Integrating a comprehensive grants system

    With the register established, we expanded the platform by developing a complete grants application and administration system. This module allows iwi members to browse and apply for grants, track the status of their submissions, and receive email notifications. For administrators, the system supports the entire grant lifecycle, from creating new grant templates to managing the five distinct application statuses and integrating with Xero for financial management.

  • 05

    Secure hosting and an ongoing partnership

    Dynamo6's Advanced Host solution, which offers strong security and reliability, was used to host the platform. Our ongoing managed services agreement ensures the platform remains up-to-date and secure, allowing Te Nehenehenui to focus on its core mission. This partnership has seen the platform continue to evolve, with enhancements such as adding auditing controls for grant changes and extending the system to accept paper-based submissions to ensure accessibility for all members.

The results

Kākaho has significantly improved Te Nehenehenui's administrative efficiency and data security, allowing them to better serve their members and community.

  • Open-source control: The open-source platform gives Te Nehenehenui complete ownership and control over their data, free from proprietary licensing structures.

  • A cost-effective and rapid solution: Using Laravel and Filament allowed for a much faster and more cost-effective development cycle compared to proprietary alternatives.

  • Improved efficiency and security: The automated, centralised platform has eliminated the inefficiencies and security risks of their previous manual system, freeing up valuable staff time.

  • A scalable platform for future growth: The solution's open-source nature ensures long-term sustainability and control over the data, with an architecture designed to evolve with Te Nehenehenui's future needs.

Success Stories

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