From the banks of the Waiaua and Otara rivers to the halls of Massey University, Ōpōtiki-born Petera Whaiao Hudson has walked a long path – one guided by whakapapa, whānau, and a deep commitment to his people.

Now, that journey has reached a remarkable milestone: Dr Hudson has earned his PhD for visionary research that brings together mātauranga Māori and artificial intelligence.

Graduating from Te Pūtahi a Toi, the School of Māori Knowledge at Massey University, Dr Hudson’s doctoral thesis explores how tikanga and mātauranga Māori can inform the design of next-generation AI systems.

His work proposes indigenous approaches to technology that promote cultural well-being, whānau connection, and long-term sustainability.

“This PhD belongs to more than just me,” said Dr Hudson. “It belongs to Mākeo and Maungarangi, to Ōmarūmutu and Terere, to Ngāti Rua, Ngāti Ngāhere and all those who have carried me here. It belongs to Ōpōtiki.”

Raised among the rich cultural traditions of Te Whakatōhea, Dr Hudson has spent decades in education and technology, both in Aotearoa and abroad.

From teaching in Denmark and Singapore to leading national digital initiatives back home, he’s always worked at the interface of learning and innovation.

In the early 2000s, he and his whānau built a mobile computer classroom to bring digital learning directly to tamariki and kura across the motu.

“That kaupapa came straight from our values,” he said. “Manaakitanga, whakawhanaungatanga, we wanted our kids to be ready for the future, on their own terms.”

Now based in Whanganui, Dr Hudson is a research fellow at Massey University and contributes to major indigenous AI initiatives both here and overseas.

His work is published internationally and continues to highlight the role Māori knowledge can play in shaping ethical, inclusive technologies.

His latest milestone comes with a clear message: the digital future must include indigenous voices.

“We have a responsibility to bring our stories, our tikanga, and our ways of thinking into spaces like AI,” said Dr Hudson.

“That’s how we make sure our mokopuna inherit tools that uplift, not erase,” he said.

Ōpōtiki can be proud; this is not just an academic achievement, but a local story of homegrown brilliance making waves on the world stage.

Dr Hudson is the son of Terence Whaiao and Mahuta Hudson and proudly descends from Te Whakatōhea. He can be contacted at [email protected].