Manaiakalani is an education programme achieving significant improvement in student achievement outcomes for 12 mostly decile 1A schools in the Auckland suburbs of Glen Innes, Pt England and Panmure. This is Auckland’s oldest state housing community and 95 per cent of students are Māori and Pasifika. By offering students full digital citizenship, the Manaiakalani Programme is not only achieving improved educational results, but also realising the potential for enhanced employment and life outcomes for our students.

To make digital citizens of our learners and their whanau, we enable them to access their learning anywhere, anytime and at any pace. We do this by supporting parents to buy a personal digital device for each learner and providing wireless internet access at home and school and by supporting Manaiakalani teachers in their continuing pedagogical innovation. Accelerated student achievement outcomes are evidenced by an extensive research base.

The Manaiakalani Education Trust was formed in 2011 to ensure the schools delivering the Manaiakalani programme have the resources they need to make the most of the opportunities available through digital technologies. The Trust draws on resources from philanthropy, the New Zealand Government and national and local businesses to ensure the programme’s long term sustainability.

Manaiakalani is the name of a star line, translated "The Hook from Heaven" and the name of the demi-god Māui Tikiti a Taranga’s fishhook, which he used to pull up a giant fish at the bottom of the ocean – a metaphor for the discovery of new islands at the bottom of the earth. It’s also a perfect metaphor for our journey of discovery using digital learning tools as a hook and a guide to deliver the knowledge our children need to be successful citizens of the 21st century.