Data, Dignity, and the Deceased: Futures for Forensic Technologies

Emerging forensic technologies, from high-resolution imaging to 3D-reconstructions, and AI-assisted analysis, are transforming how data from tūpāpaku are created, used, and stored. Asthese tools evolve, they open new possibilities for identification and justice, while also raising important cultural, ethical, and legal considerations. Questions of authority, whakapapa, tapu, and kaitiakitanga emerge: how might these principles guide the care of such data, and what does dignity look like when the deceased may continue to exist in multiple digital forms?

In this session, Dr Angela Clark shares early findings from a Māori-centred research programme exploring governance for forensic data of the deceased in Aotearoa. Drawing from interviews with Māori experts in digital technologies and insights from forensic practice, the talk explores how tikanga and Māori Data Sovereignty principles might shape ethical, culturally grounded approaches within evolving forensic data ecosystems.

About Dr Angela

Dr Angela Clark is a Forensic Anthropologist and Lecturer at the University of Otago. She has over 20 years’ experience working with human remains in forensic, archaeological, and historical contexts, bringing together scientific expertise with a Kaupapa Māori-aligned approach grounded in dignity and respect. Her research focuses on the cultural and ethical dimensions of forensic practice, particularly the treatment of data derived from tūpāpaku.

Working alongside Māori researchers and partners, Angela is committed to contributing to a forensic science environment that upholds equity, cultural integrity, and justice.