Privacy Policy

Last Updated: May 23, 2025

Welcome to Maori.ai ("we," "us," or "our"). We are committed to respecting and protecting your privacy and your data, with a particular focus on upholding the principles of Tikanga Māori and Māori Data Sovereignty in relation to any Māori data we may interact with. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website Maori.ai (the "Site") and use our services, which may include but are not limited to Māori language text-to-speech (TTS) tools, AI-powered chatbots, research, and due diligence services (collectively, the "Services").

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. If you do not agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, please do not access the Site or use our Services.

1. Our Commitment to Tikanga Māori and Māori Data Sovereignty

Maori.ai acknowledges the importance of Māori data sovereignty (Te Mana Raraunga). We strive to apply principles of Tikanga Māori in our handling of data, particularly data relating to Te Ao Māori, te reo Māori, and Māori individuals and communities. This includes a commitment to:

  • Rangatiratanga (Authority/Control): Supporting Māori control over Māori data.
  • Manaakitanga (Care/Reciprocity): Treating all data with respect and ensuring its use is beneficial and reciprocal.
  • Kaitiakitanga (Guardianship): Acting as responsible stewards of the data we hold.
  • Whakapapa (Genealogy/Connection): Understanding the interconnectedness of data and its context.

We are continuously learning and evolving our practices to better honour these principles.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect information about you in a variety of ways. The information we may collect on the Site and through our Services includes:

  • Personal Data: Personally identifiable information, such as your name, email address, and telephone number, and any other information you voluntarily provide to us when you register for our Services, use our tools (e.g., by inputting text for TTS services or interacting with our chatbot), or otherwise contact us.
  • Derivative Data: Information our servers automatically collect when you access the Site, such as your IP address, your browser type, your operating system, your access times, and the pages you have viewed directly before and after accessing the Site.
  • Text and Voice Data: If you use our text-to-speech services or AI chatbot, we may collect the text you input and the corresponding voice output generated. We aim to handle such data with cultural sensitivity, especially when it involves te reo Māori.
  • Business Data: If you engage with our due diligence or consultancy services, we may collect information about your business relevant to the provision of those services.

3. How We Use Your Information

Having accurate information permits us to provide you with a smooth, efficient, and customized experience. Specifically, we may use information collected about you via the Site or our Services to:

  • Create and manage your account.
  • Provide, operate, and maintain our Services, including our TTS tools and chatbot.
  • Improve, personalize, and expand our Services.
  • Understand and analyze how you use our Services.
  • Develop new products, services, features, and functionality.
  • Communicate with you, either directly or through one of our partners, including for customer service, to provide you with updates and other information relating to the Site and our Services, and for marketing and promotional purposes (where you have consented).
  • Process your transactions.
  • Conduct research and analysis, particularly in line with our focus as a think tank, ensuring that any use of Māori data is respectful and, where possible, benefits Māori communities.
  • Comply with legal obligations.

4. Disclosure of Your Information

We will not sell your personal information. We may share information we have collected about you in certain situations:

  • With Your Consent: We may share your information with third parties when you have given us explicit consent to do so.
  • By Law or to Protect Rights: If we believe the release of information about you is necessary to respond to legal process, to investigate or remedy potential violations of our policies, or to protect the rights, property, and safety of others, we may share your information as permitted or required by any applicable law, rule, or regulation.
  • Third-Party Service Providers: We may share your information with third-party vendors, service providers, contractors, or agents who perform services for us or on our behalf and require access to such information to do that work (e.g., website hosting, data analysis). We will use reasonable efforts to ensure these third parties are obligated to protect your information.
  • Aggregated or De-identified Data: We may share aggregated or de-identified information, which cannot reasonably be used to identify you, for research or analytical purposes.

Any sharing of data, particularly Māori data, will be approached with careful consideration of Māori Data Sovereignty principles.

5. Data Security

We use administrative, technical, and physical security measures to help protect your personal information. While we have taken reasonable steps to secure the personal information you provide to us, please be aware that despite our efforts, no security measures are perfect or impenetrable, and no method of data transmission can be guaranteed against any interception or other type of misuse.

6. Data Retention

We will only retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes we collected it for, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements, and in accordance with our commitment to Māori Data Sovereignty.

7. Your Rights

You have certain rights regarding your personal information, including:

  • Access: The right to access the personal information we hold about you.
  • Correction: The right to request that we correct any inaccurate personal information.
  • Deletion: The right to request that we delete your personal information, subject to certain legal and operational retention needs.
  • Opt-Out: The right to opt-out of certain uses of your information, such as marketing communications.

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the contact information provided below. We will respond to your request in accordance with applicable law and the principles of Tikanga Māori where relevant.

8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We may use cookies, web beacons, tracking pixels, and other tracking technologies on the Site to help customize the Site and improve your experience. When you access the Site, your personal information is not collected through the use of tracking technology. Most browsers are set to accept cookies by default. You can remove or reject cookies, but be aware that such action could affect the availability and functionality of the Site.

9. Children's Privacy

Our Services are not directed to individuals under the age of 13 (or a higher age threshold as required by applicable law). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child without parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information.

10. International Data Transfers

Your information, including personal data, may be transferred to — and maintained on — computers located outside of your state, province, country, or other governmental jurisdiction where the data protection laws may differ from those of your jurisdiction. We will take appropriate measures to ensure that your data is treated securely and in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Privacy Policy are effective when they are posted on this page.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions or comments about this Privacy Policy, or wish to exercise your rights, please contact us at:

We are committed to working with you to obtain a fair resolution of any complaint or concern about privacy. We will also cooperate with relevant regulatory authorities, including local data protection authorities, to resolve any complaints regarding the transfer of personal data that we cannot resolve with you directly.