Digital footprint, data management, big data analytics - these buzzwords are floating around in everyday vernacular, but do we know what they mean and the impacts that they can have on our lives and behaviours?

Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology is hosting an open forum discussion on Tuesday to discuss these ideas and pique participants' interests on how to maintain data sovereignty as part of the inaugural Tauranga STEM Festival. It's also part of a range of activities and initiatives hosted by the institute to mark Te Wiki o te reo Māori.

Developed by STEM Wana Trust, the festival is a series of community-based events culminating in a main event on Saturday, October 12 2019. It was designed to engage and inspire a new generation of scientists, technologists, engineers and mathematicians.

Tuesday night's discussion, from 5pm – 8pm, will involve a panel of women who will share their thoughts on actions in the digital environment including the digital trails we leave, how data is being used and what to consider when digitising indigenous knowledge.

The panel consists of Te Mātāwai Tumu Whakarae Te Atarangi Whiu, Te Rūnanga Tātari Tatauranga Professor Tahu Kukutai, The Centre for Health Director Dr Anna Rolleston and Te Wehi Managing Director Kirikowhai Mikaere. It will be facilitated by Arataua founder Kahurangi Milne.

Under classic colonialism, oppressed people were disposed of their land, exploited their labour, exercised extraterritorial governance, and perpetuated dependency and plunder through strategic underdevelopment. Digital colonisation is considered the next stage and is the fight for control of people's minds by large corporations.

Executive Director Strategic Partnerships and Māori Success, Executive Leadership Team Ana Morrison says the decision to host an open forum discussing digital colonialism has several benefits for Toi Ohomai and the community.

'Toi Ohomai supports growing the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics sector. We are critically reflective about New Zealand's history and its impacts on our current and future practise,” says Ana. 'We interrupt inequity by addressing systems and structures that dis-empower learners and their communities.”

The discussion is an open forum and all members of the community are invited to attend. It will be held in Te Ara o Mauao building (M Block) at the Toi Ohomai Windermere Campus and starts 5pm with nibbles and drinks available.

To attend, please RSVP Megan.Wheeler@toiohomai.ac.nz.