Nikolasa has extensive experience working in digital spaces and alongside indigenous communities.
She is one of Digital Natives Academy’s founders, and is on the NZ Esports Federation Board and chairs the Women’s Esports Subcommittee Chair. She is the CEO of Native Tech, Aotearoa’s first Māori owned PTE/TEO to deliver digital and creative tech programmes which currently deliver NZQA accredited programmes level 1-3.
She has a Master’s in Public Policy and Administration from Waikato University where she lectured for 5 years in the School of Māori & Pacific Development. She is founding Director of TangataWhenua.com, one of Aotearoa’s first Māori news portals launched in 2002. Nikolasa was co-founder of Digital Basecamp, Rotorua’s largest coworking space for digital content creators and cofounded Digital Natives Academy Charitable Trust.
DNA was founded in 2014 and was one of the first non-profits in NZ to focus on providing access, mentorship and training and pathways into creative and digital tech with a focus on providing kaupapa Māori delivery. DNA has a 2500sqm training facility in the heart of Rotorua with 65 high spec rigs. DNA works closely with local schools and offers free programmes, are an accredited PLD provider and support the delivery of Media Design School’s accredited Level 4 Digital Creativity Foundation programme.
Nikolasa along with her husband Potaua, run Native Industries, a Māori owned digital design studio that provides access to professional designers and developers working in 2D, 3D (UNREAL/Blender), graphic design, web development and illustration.
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