Case Study: Waikato Institute Of Technology achieves practical IoT and AI learning for students with Microsoft Corporation

New Zealand youth gain practical industry experience in IoT and AI with the support of Microsoft

Waikato Institute Of Technology (Wintec) partnered with Microsoft Corporation and Aware Group to bring the Māori-inspired Toia Mai digital art installation to life. The project used Microsoft Azure App Service and Azure Cloud Services to help students and staff explore AI, IoT, and data in a practical, real-world setting while supporting responsible innovation.

Microsoft Corporation’s solution connected environmental and proximity sensors, weather data, and camera inputs into the Azure cloud to create a real-time digital twin of the sculpture and its environment. This enabled personalized sound and lighting experiences for visitors, gave students hands-on industry experience, and opened opportunities for future environmental insights, conservation, and better prediction capabilities.

Waikato Institute Of Technology

Hagen Tautari

Advisor of Māori Achievement Office