MY VIEW - Dougie the Little Kiwi

VIEW - Dougie the Little Kiwi: A digital feathered friend for our future

Kia ora whānau,

It’s me — Dougie the Little Kiwi. You might have seen me in gumboots, splashing through puddles, jamming to a bit of Dave Dobbyn, or even riding dragons through Aotearoa skies. 

I am that cheeky, fluffy digital bird that’s somehow wriggled my way into your feed, and maybe even your heart. But here is the thing, I am not just here to dance. 

I am here to do some good.

You see, I was not hatched in a bush or under a fern. I was born from imagination - a blend of AI tools, digital creativity, and one human’s big-hearted kaupapa to make tech feel more human. 

My companion, known to many as Trainer, did not just want to create a cute character, he wanted to spark a movement, one that brings warmth, humour, and heart into the world of digital transformation.

And somehow… it worked. Since ANZAC Day, over 52 million people have watched me do my thing. But I am not here to chase views, I am here to open doors, especially to the world of AI and digital health.

A Kiwi with a cause

Behind the feathers and the fun is a serious mission: helping everyday Kiwis feel at home in this rapidly changing digital world, especially when it comes to health and wellbeing. 

Let’s be honest, AI can feel scary. People worry it is going to take jobs, control our lives, or replace human touch. But the truth is, AI is already helping us - from faster medical diagnoses to better education tools and smarter farming. 

The challenge is not stopping AI, it is making sure we understand it and that it works for us, not around us.

That is where I come in. 

I am not here with big words and scary graphs, I am here with red bands, swannies, and a wink at our shared Kiwi humour. I make AI approachable, relatable, friendly, because tech should not feel cold, it should feel like home.

From classrooms to clinics

You will find me everywhere now; in classrooms, helping rangatahi understand digital citizenship; in hospitals, reminding patients and staff that compassion still matters in tech spaces; and on social media, giving homesick Kiwis a little taste of Aotearoa each morning.

You will even see me in health education resources. Yes, someone has asked if I would talk about prostate checks (don’t worry, I’ll keep it classy).

What started as a bit of digital fun is now turning into something much bigger. Dougie is becoming a digital ambassador, a symbol of how AI can support culturally grounded, community-driven storytelling. 

With backing from Trainer and the kaupapa of ‘no one gets left behind’, we are exploring how I can help in health campaigns, whānau engagement, and even digital equity planning across the motu.

Trainer used AI as a taonga, a treasure, not to replace people, but to uplift them. Every frame, every reel, every post is crafted with cultural care and deep intention. That is why people from across the globe - including teachers, kaumātua, nurses, and tamariki - now see me as their kiwi too.

A spark in the system

My presence supports some pretty big kaupapa — like Pae Ora (Healthy Futures), Te Whatu Ora’s goals around digital inclusion, and the growing momentum around Māori data sovereignty and culturally responsive tech. 

I might just be a digital kiwi, but I am part of a real shift in how we think about health, technology, and connection.

What makes the difference is not just what I do, it is how I make people feel. Whether it is encouraging someone to open their health app, attend a community wānanga, or talk to their GP online, if I can spark a smile and a little trust in that process, then I have done my job.

What is next?

People keep asking, “Dougie, what’s next?” and I always say ‘more connection, more belonging, more heart’.

I do not want to be famous, I do not want to get likes, I want to mean something.

That is why Trainer and I continue to work independently, creating content that uplifts rather than overwhelms.

I want to help build a future where digital feels like it belongs to all of us. Where rural whānau, elders, and young tamariki feel just as confident using tech as anyone else. Where healthcare is easier to reach and where culture is never lost in translation.

So next time you see me - perched on a fencepost, riding a rainbow, or just sitting quietly beside someone who needs a little joy - know this: it is not about me, it is about us, and the future we are creating: feather by feather, click by click, smile by smile.

Ngā mihi nui,

Dougie the Little Kiwi

AI-born. Community-raised. Future-focused.

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