A Tauranga-based Māori health technology company is accelerating its push into global markets, highlighting the growing role of Māori-led firms in New Zealand’s high-value export sectors.
Carepatron is preparing to expand across North America, the United Kingdom and Europe following support from the Government’s Māori Development Fund, administered by Te Puni Kōkiri.
Founded in 2021 by Jamie Frew and David Pene, the company has developed an AI-powered clinical support tool integrated into practice management systems, designed to improve efficiency, accessibility and scalability for healthcare providers, a category of software increasingly in demand in international markets.
Few is a strong advocate for making healthcare available worldwide.
Pene has a passion for integrating technology with a deep understanding of healthcare needs, a caring attitude, and a forward-thinking mindset can bring about significant transformation.
Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka says the investment reflects a broader focus on export-led growth.
“Growing the economy means backing Māori enterprise to scale, export, and compete internationally,” he says.
“Investment from the Māori Development Fund accelerated the development and deployment of Carepatron’s clinical support tool. That support has helped drive a 50 per cent increase in export revenue and positioned the company for continued expansion across North America, the United Kingdom and Europe.”
Carepatron received $250,000 in funding, matched by the company, to support the development and rollout of its AI Clinical Support Co-Pilot. The tool sits within a broader global shift toward digitised healthcare systems, where automation and AI are being used to reduce administrative workloads and improve patient outcomes.
The company’s expansion aligns with the Government’s wider economic strategy, including Tōnui Māori (Going for Growth), which aims to lift Māori participation in high-growth, export-oriented sectors.
“We are focused on practical steps that lift productivity and strengthen our export performance. Māori businesses are central to that ambition,” Potaka says.
“Building a future for Māori enterprise means investing in capability, innovation and global reach. When Māori businesses succeed offshore, that growth flows back into whānau, hapū, Iwi and regional communities.”
The move also underscores the increasing importance of intangible exports, such as software, platforms and digital services, within New Zealand’s export mix, offering scalability and access to large offshore markets without the same logistical complexity faced by goods exporters.
As global demand for healthcare technology continues to rise, particularly in markets grappling with workforce shortages and efficiency pressures, companies like Carepatron are positioning themselves to compete internationally with specialised, high-value solutions.
“Backing enterprise is a priority for our Government. That means disciplined, targeted investment that delivers measurable results, stronger exports, growing revenue, and a future where Māori enterprise continues to play a leading role in New Zealand’s economic success,” Potaka says.
