o
New Zealand’s
Strategy for Artificial
Intelligence
Advancing New Zealand towards a more prosperous, AI powered future
Note on AI use
Print: ISBN 978-1-991316-79-0
Online: ISBN 978-1-991316-78-3
June 2025
DRAFT IN-CONFIDENCE
Ministerial foreword
[TBC]
By 2030, Aotearoa New Zealand will be a world-leading hub for responsible AI innovation and is globally
recognised for harnessing the power of AI to enable a prosperous, inclusive and equitable future.
-
AI Forum, Executive Council
Our vision is that by 2030, Aotearoa New Zealand will have a community of cutting-edge companies
producing and exporting AI technologies, supported by a strong network of researchers involved in high-level
fundamental and applied research.
-
AI Researchers Association (Prof Albert Bifet, Co-Chair)
New Zealand’s Public Research Organisations are national assets that can drive safe, practical AI
development for the good of New Zealand.
-
Dr Jess Robertson, Chief Scientist, Advanced Technology,
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research
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Table of Contents
Ministerial foreword ......................................................................................................................................... 3
Advancing New Zealand towards a more prosperous, AI powered future ....................................................... 5
The opportunity for New Zealand ..................................................................................................................... 8
Principle One: Strengthening AI research & development ............................................................................... 9
Principle Two: Cooperating internationally .................................................................................................... 11
Principle Three: Fostering the AI ecosystem ................................................................................................... 13
Principle Four: Enabling policy environment .................................................................................................. 15
Principle Five: Building Kiwi capacity .............................................................................................................. 17
Areas of opportunity ....................................................................................................................................... 19
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Advancing New Zealand towards a
more prosperous, AI powered future
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transformational potential for New Zealanders and our economy. This Strategy
sets a clear direction for New Zealand, giving public and private organisations confidence to safely use,
develop and innovate with AI.
Industry research suggests that adopting generative AI (Gen
AI)1 alone could add $76 billion to the economy by
2038, or over 15% of GDP. Other economic analysis – including from the Treasury and the New Zealand
Institute of Economic Research – also finds that AI could significantly benefit our country’s economic
performance.
The Government’s vision is for more New Zealand organisations to use, deploy and design AI, and for this to
drive economic growth, through increased innovation and improved productivity.
This Strategy is designed around five policy principles, drawn from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation
and Development’s (OECD) AI Prin
ciples.2 These principles – together with a commitment to the five values-
based AI principles – help guide the development of AI policies that are innovative and trustworthy. The
Strategy also identifies two areas of immediate opportunity: public services and healthcare.
Unlocking economic growth through AI adoption and development
This Strategy sets the direction for an AI-enabled economy and outlines the Government’s initial actions to
support it. These actions will be refreshed in 2026. It builds on progress already made by groups towards a
strategic approach to AI in New Zealand’s economy, including the AI Forum and its
AI Blueprint for Aotearoa
New Zealand.
1 For a description of AI and generative AI, see Annex
2 For more information on the OECD AI Principles, see Annex.
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AI Strategy: Advancing New Zealand towards a more prosperous, AI-powered future
New Zealand’s AI Policy Principles
Areas of opportunity
Strengthening
Enabling
Cooperating
Fostering the AI
Building Kiwi
AI R&D
policy
internationally
ecosystem
capacity
Public Service
Healthcare
environment
NZ works with partners to
The Public Service increases
NZ’s AI R&D capabilities
NZ has the right
NZ is a good place to use New Zealanders have the
AI improves health outcomes
Desired
influence global AI norms,
safe and responsible use of
deliver benefits for New
infrastructure to support AI and develop trustworthy
right skills to use and
for patients and productivity
outcomes
and attracts inward AI
AI and models international
Zealanders
innovation and use
AI
innovate with AI
for the workforce
investment
best practice
• Published Responsible
•
•
•
AI Guidance for
Invested in High
Established the National AI
Engaged in multilateral
•
•
Businesses (MBIE)
Performance Compute
Published AI resources
and Algorithm Expert
Sharpened focus of
discussions on AI to
• Published Responsible AI
(NIWA)
• Published National AI
for educators (MoE)
Advisory Group (HNZ)
Delivered
Catalyst and Marsden
shape global norms and •
Guidance in Public Service:
Ultra-fast broadband
Strategy (MBIE)
• Updated Active Investor
• Precision Health work
Funds (MBIE)
governance (MFAT,
GenAI (GCDO)
available to 87% of
• Publish NZ Cyber
+ Visa (INZ)
programme with focus on AI
DPMC)
population (MBIE)
Security Strategy
(MoH)
(NCSC)
•
•
Engaging in AI
Monitoring of AI uptake
• Monitoring and providing • Stewardship of overall
• Procuring AI productivity
discussions in
• Monitoring impact of AI • Building capability for
Ongoing
of R&D Tax Incentive
advice on rural
regulatory
tools for clinicians (MoH,
international fora
on labour market (MBIE)
Public Service AI (GCDO)
scheme (MBIE, IRD)
connectivity (MBIE)
environment (MBIE)
HNZ)
(MFAT, GCDO, DPMC)
• Develop policy for
• Establish Invest NZ
• Health-technology
management of
(MBIE)
• Foreign Investment Fund
assessment processes in
research Intellectual
• Reform Overseas
•
•
Deliver Public Service AI
Develop Customer &
• Develop policy to
tax changes (IRD)
place to guide investment
Property (MBIE)
Investment Act (TSY)
Assurance Model (GCDO)
Now – 2026 •
•
(MoH, HNZ)
Products Data Act
address use of cultural
Deliver AI capability
Advanced Tech
• Commence Singapore-
• Publish Public Service year
regulations (MBIE)
IP in AI (TPK)
support to small business
• Comms and engagement to
Research Organisation
NZ Joint Grant Call: AI
2 AI plan (GCDO)
(MBIE)
build trust and social license
in operation (TBC)
for Healthy Ageing
in Health AI (MoH, HNZ)
(MBIE)
project (MBIE)
•
•
•
Implement AI common
Governance model in place
NZ chairs Digital
• Potential review of
• Implement refreshed NZ
2027
• Census data access
practices in the Public
to leverage data, digital and
Nations international
copyright policy for AI
Curriculum to strengthen
onward
improvements (StatsNZ)
Service for high use areas
AI for benefits across the
network (GCDO)
(MBIE)
AI content (MoE)
(GCDO)
sector (MoH, HNZ)
Success indicators:
• Increase amount of
AI-related R&D activity, measured by R&D Tax Incentive funding allocated to AI-related activity as identified by Inland
Revenue.
• Increase rate of
private sector use of AI, measured by Business Operations Survey indicators on “Proportion of businesses whose technology
changed to a major degree over last financial year” and “Proportion of businesses using selected types of ICT (including AI)”.
• Strengthen the
AI education and training pipeline, measured by tertiary enrolment in fields of study of direct relevance for AI.
• Lift New Zealand’s standing in
international AI-preparedness indices, measured by the Oxford Insights Government AI Readiness Index.
New Zealand’s AI Ecosystem Map
This map represents New Zealand’s thriving AI sector working and investing in AI technologies at all levels. Developed by Callaghan Innovation, maintained by the AI Forum
The AI Forum will soon relaunch the AI
capability mapping directory to provide a
comprehensive and dynamic overview,
including researchers. Thanks to AI
Researchers Association.
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The opportunity for New Zealand
AI is an emerging, powerful general purpose technology.
Early forms such as machine learning have existed for
GenAI could create an extra $4.5 trillion (USD)
decades. It now powers the tools that many New
across the Asia-Pacific region in next 15 years.
Zealanders use every day such as search engines that
comb through vast amounts of data to answer our
- Accenture (2024)
questions, the facial recognition software that unlocks
our mobile phones and the virtual Al assistants – like
GenAI could deliver between $2.6T and $4.4 T
Apple’s Siri and Microsoft’s Cortana – that understand
[USD] to the global economy annually.
our commands and provide relevant information
.3
Non-generative AI could unlock between $11T
Recent advancements have propelled AI forward in new
and $17.7T [USD] in the global economy
and promising ways. The emergence of generative AI
annually.
(GenAI), most notably with the public launch of ChatGPT
- McKinsey (2023)
in 2022, signalled a major leap forward with significant
implications for economies and societies.
A 20% increase in use of advanced digital
AI is likely to affect almost every aspect of life as it
technologies could grow New Zealand
becomes increasingly capable and is further integrated
GDP by 1.15% to 2.08% per annum.
into the way that New Zealanders work, learn and play.
In the future, AI presents exciting opportunities for New
- NZIER & Spark (2024)
Zealand and its people with widespread adoption
offering potential for economic growth, boosting
GenAI could add $76B in value to the New
productivity, catalysing innovation, increasing export
Zealand economy by 2038, boosting forecast
opportunities, and delivering better public services.
GDP by 15%.
At the same time, like any technology, AI is not without
- Accenture & Microsoft (2024)
risk and should be used with care. AI will only deliver
benefits if businesses, workers, consumers, research organisations and government agencies harness AI
responsibly, using it safely and effectively.
AI and opportunities for the Māori economy
AI has the potential to deliver social and economic benefits for Māori by enabling the use, sharing and
amplification of mātauranga Māori and Māori data, which are taonga. But AI can misappropriate cultural
knowledge and undermine data sovereignty, including where these are used for training AI models. Māori
cultural intellectual property (IP) is a key part of what makes Aotearoa New Zealand unique, and growing the
Māori economy is fundamental to advancing national prosperity. AI provides Māori with the opportunity to
leverage cultural IP for their benefit. To enable this,
Te Puni Kōkiri is developing domestic and international
policy to address regulatory barriers to commercialising cultural IP, and to ensure that the benefits flow back to
Māori and Aotearoa New Zealand.
Te Hiku Media – innovating with AI and te reo
Te Hiku Media, an award-winning charitable media and technology organisation, used ethically sourced
archival footage and audio to design an automatic speech recognition model which can transcribe Te Reo
Māori with 92% accuracy. Te Hiku Media uses this model to run Kaituhi, an automatic bilingual transcription
service. Their work has inspired other indigenous communities around the world to explore using AI to
preserve and share cultural knowledge. Kaituhi and other tools are ready to be deployed across the many
sectors seeking Te Reo Māori technological solutions.
3 For a brief summary and definition of AI, see Annex.
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Principle One: Strengthening AI
research & development
New Zealand will use AI to fast-track science, drive new innovations, and
leverage homegrown expertise for the wider economy
Advances in AI are propelled by cutting-edge research and development (R&D). At the same time, AI is used by
researchers, scientists and innovators to accelerate their work. As such, AI is increasingly integral to New
Zealand’s Science, Innovation and Technology (SIT) system. Maintaining capability in AI R&D also helps New
Zealand participate in advanced research discovery internationally and domestically, and to translate
technological developments into practical
applications.
A history of excellence in AI science
Resetting New Zealand’s SIT system
New Zealand has areas of
The Government is focussed on creating a more
longstanding excellence in
dynamic SIT system that can respond to priorities,
high-quality fundamental AI
keep pace with technological advances, and help
research.
grow the economy. In January 2025, it announced
In 1996, the University of
the most significant reset of New Zealand’s SIT
Waikato released WEKA (Waikato Environment for
system in more than 30 years.
Knowledge Analysis), an open-source tool for
This will include consolidating New Zealand’s existing
machine learning and data mining. WEKA is still in
seven Crown Research Institutes to form three Public
use today, despite being one of the oldest available
Research Organisations (PROs), focussed on the
machine learning systems. It is referenced in over
bioeconomy, earth sciences, and health and forensic
25,000 research and science publications.
science services.
Almost 30 years later, New Zealand’s universities
A new advanced technology PRO will also be created,
and Crown Research Institutes continue to
potentially delivering research, capability, and
contribute to domestic and global AI research
commercial outreach, including on AI. This
excellence. In 2023, New Zealand ranked 24th
organisation will be modelled on similar international
globally (per capita) in the volume of AI academic
entities, seeking to maximise New Zealand’s
publications, and 12th in terms of publication
advanced technology expertise. As a first step to
citations (a key measure of reach and impact).
establishing this organisation, the Government has
announced $71m investment into a new advanced technology science platform hosted by the Robinson
Research Institute, designed to leverage opportunities across sectors, support innovation and build workforce
capability.
The Government has also announced plans to introduce a national policy for the management IP in universities
and PROs, which will help bring new technologies, including AI, to market.
Putting investments to work in science, innovation and technology
Each year, $1.2bn of government funding is invested in the SIT system. The Government is considering the best
way to allocate this funding, the shape of the innovation system, how to best support startups and scaleups,
and enable better technology transfer.
A sharpened focus for research and science funding will ensure greater direct value to New Zealanders.
Contestable funding mechanisms will allow research and science ideas to be assessed against certain criteria
and then prioritised:
• The Catalyst Fund invests in SIT activities that support international collaborations to benefit New Zealand’s
economy, environment and society. AI is one of the six research priority areas for the Fund for the 2024-
2028 period.
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• The Marsden Fund is New Zealand’s premier fund for investigator-led research with a focus on economic,
environmental or health benefits to New Zealand. AI research and science is firmly in scope, given the
Fund’s emphasis on physics, chemistry, maths, engineering and biomedical sciences.
To support businesses and other organisations to innovate, the Research and Development Tax Incentive (the
RDTI) was introduced in 2019, offering a tax credit of 15% on eligible expenditure. The total estimated spend of
AI-related projects (based on approved RDTI applications) currently sits at $611 million. This figure will be
monitored to determine whether it is growing over time, to provide insights into the scale of AI innovation
taking place across New Zealand.
Scientists, innovators and researchers are pushing the envelope on AI, creating world-
leading technology and delivering benefits to New Zealanders and the economy
Predicting whale-watching success with AI:
AI-powered underwater robots: Computer Vision
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric
Research Lab, University of Canterbury (UC)
Research (NIWA)
UC is developing a cost-effective autonomous
NIWA has partnered with a commercial whale
underwater vehicle (AUV) to support New Zealand’s
watching business in Kaikōura to give the best
mussel farm industry. The AUV combines computer
possible experience for tourists.
vision and AI to undertake real-time 3-D scanning,
Through AI, and with the combined power of
navigating, recognising species, measuring specimens
NIWA forecasting and historical data on whale
and providing vital information to growers.
appearances, sailing predictions can be made
The AUV reduces the need for manual operation.
and communicated to customers. This
Future uses also include scanning of wharf pylons and
technology could be scaled up to other New
ship hulls to accurately and safely identify invasive
Zealand tourism ventures dependent on the
organisms.
weather.
AI-powered Digital Twin: Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR)
ESR's Digital Twin platform creates AI-driven digital replicas of complex physical systems to improve
decision-making. The platform uses AI with a synthetic population derived from census and survey data to
power large-scale simulations.
Initially developed for Covid-19 modelling, the platform use extends to other areas including public health,
environmental management, and climate change resilience. It can also be used to do “what-if” analysis,
testing scenarios to gain critical insights for government agencies, such as virtual outbreak modelling for
measles. As the technology evolves, it is attracting interest from the public and private sectors, promising to
deliver AI-powered decision support across multiple areas and addressing global challenges.
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Principle Two: Cooperating
internationally
New Zealand will work with partners on the global stage for trustworthy and
innovative AI
As a global technology, AI is increasingly central to nations’ economic competitiveness, national security, and
plays a growing role in geopolitics. Its borderless nature means that like-minded countries must work together
to develop policies that facilitate the responsible use, development and export of AI without undue trade
barriers or legal complications.
Contributing to global AI governance and information sharing
New Zealand will continue to engage in the most important global forums on AI governance to influence the
responsible development of AI, working closely with partner governments, international organisations,
industry, standards bodies, and academic institutions.
Informed by the OECD AI Principles, New Zealand is committed to promoting innovative and trustworthy AI,
reaffirming international law, human rights, and democratic values, and ensuring it takes a multi-stakeholder
approach to international AI efforts.
New Zealand will focus on international initiatives that align with national interests, and are likely to have a
real-world impact by improving lives, growing economies, improving global security, or protecting people from
harmful or negligent AI use. These include:
• Non-binding United Nations General Assembly Resolutions on AI and meetings of the AI Safety Summit
Series. Both have the potential to crystalise global norms and encourage international standards.
• APEC is also emerging as a forum for exploring AI innovation and sharing best practice on AI policy for
economic development and regional integration.
New Zealand will also deepen engagement with a range of like-minded partners, including other small,
advanced economies, identifying opportunities to enhance collaboration and information sharing. For
example:
• The New Zealand – United States Dialogue on Critical and Emerging Technologies can build links
between our countries’ technology sectors, creating opportunities for collaborative AI research.
• New Zealand is chairing the 2027 Digital Nations annual meeting, a network of the world’s most
advanced digital nations, set up to share expertise and collaborate on common problems.
Enhancing international connectedness for AI investment and innovation
As part of its focus on economic growth and development, the Government has recently announced changes to
attract more foreign direct investment. These changes include:
• Establishing Invest New Zealand, the Government’s one-stop-shop and problem solver for investors. It will
proactively identify high-impact opportunities including in AI, cut through red tape, and connect investors
to drive growth. It will be tasked with attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI ) to drive economic growth,
create high-paying jobs, and enhance New Zealand's global competitiveness.
• Reforming the Overseas Investment Act 2005 to reduce restrictions, compliance costs, and uncertainty for
prospective international investors.
• Changing the Active Investor Plus Visa to provide a pathway for experienced, skilled investors to help grow
New Zealand's economy. The changes, which took effect on 1 April 2025, are designed to make this visa
more attractive by simplifying the categories and expanding the scope of acceptable investments.
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Leveraging New Zealand’s international partnerships
Research institutions throughout the world are considering
how to apply AI to problems or challenges common to many
different countries. By working collaboratively with like-
minded partners, we can draw on the collective expertise.
For example, the
New Zealand-Singapore Leveraging AI for
Healthy Ageing 2025 investment, announced in 2024,
provides New Zealand researchers with an invaluable opportunity to work with one of the world’s foremost
AI research organisations.
This joint initiative. funded by the Singaporean and New Zealand Governments, seeks novel, scalable, and
cost-effective AI solutions to address neurological and mental conditions among older people. The aim is to
reduce the healthcare burden, address the wider societal impacts of ageing, and improve the quality of life
for older populations. New Zealand, through the Catalyst Fund, is investing up to $12m over three years to
fund up to three projects.
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Principle Three: Fostering the AI ecosystem
2. Enabling
ecosystem
New Zealand will have the digital technology and infrastructure that AI requires
Connectivity
High-Performance Computing and AI Compute
High quality connectivity is critical to the
High-performance computing (HPC) is a specialised form of computer for solving
_
success of modern economies. Most
complex scientific and engineering problems that require high-speed parallel
consumer-facing AI tools are accessed via
processing. These include large-scale simulations, data analysis, and scientific
the cloud, where users give instructions or
computations for developing advanced AI models, genomics, and climate
prompts to an AI model through a device
modelling.
(e.g., mobile phone) and computation is
outsourced to data centres.
New Zealand is one of 18 countries with Tier 1 status under the United States’ Framework for AI
Diffusion, giving us, and companies based here, privileged access to advanced Graphics Processing
Most of New Zealand is connected to high-
Units (GPUs).
speed internet. In 2023, over 1.8 million
premises had access to the Ultra-Fast
In New Zealand, the Government supports two main HPC providers:
Broadband (UFB) network, 87% of New
• The New Zealand eScience Infrastructure (NeSI) is a contract-based collaboration hosted by the
Zealanders had access to fibre connections,
and 97% of urban households were within
University of Auckland and available for use by all research organisations in New Zealand. NeSI
coverage of cellular fixed wireless services.
provides specialised HPC resources and analytics to researchers, as well as HPC training and
support for researchers.
Since 2010, the Government has invested over $2.5b in this
• NIWA is a Crown Research Institute focussed on advancing environmental science for the
infrastructure, including $1.8b in loans to support the rollout
sustainable management of natural resources. It uses HPC for extremely complex modelling to
of UFB and more than $770m in grant funding for rural
forecast weather, project the impacts of climate change, and understand the systems that drive
connectivity infrastructure.
the oceans. In August 2024, a further $20m was invested in NIWA’s HPC providing a significant
upgrade in generational power.
The emergence and rapid growth of
broadband services via low-earth orbit
The Government also invests in data connectivity through the Research Education Advanced
satellites is providing rural broadband users
Network New Zealand (REANNZ), which operates a specialist digital network for New Zealand’s
with greater fixed wireless network coverage
research and education sector. From 1 July 2025, REANNZ will also provide specialised HPC resources
and performance options than ever before.
and analytics to researchers working on large-scale, highly complex projects.
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Data
Datacentres
Government Stats NZ is New Zealand’s official, dedicated statistics agency, and home to the
Data centres are facilities that host
data
Government Chief Data Steward. It is responsible for collecting, stewarding and
computing, data storage and networking
analysing data about New Zealand. It hosts databases of national significance as
equipment for networks.
well as the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation, which supports the ethical use of
Housing these facilities in New Zealand gives
New Zealand’s data. Stats NZ is modernising the future of population and social
us more control over how data is stored and
statistics, including the census. The aim is to safely provide critical data and
used (data sovereignty), protects sensitive information,
statistics faster and more often, while increasing flexibility to fill data gaps and meet
reduces latency, and creates resilience against disruptions
aspirations over time.
such as natural disasters.
Government agencies and Crown entities house extensive, longitudinal datasets relating to many
New Zealand has over 80 data centres, mostly in Auckland
different facets of New Zealand. AI can help unlock latent power in this data to create new insights
and Wellington, with local operators including Spark and
and solutions. Publicly accessible sets of data generated across government organisations are s
Datacom, as well as overseas ‘hyperscalers’ entering the
maintained at data.govt.nz. This free, open source repository helps people discover and use open
market, including AWS through its Cloud Region
data, empowering data-driven technology such as AI.
investment.
Data centres use large amounts of power. New Zealand’s
energy grid is 87% renewable and growing, making New
Businesses can hold powerful data, but this can be harder to leverage because the
Zealand a desirable place for greater investment in data
Commercial
datasets are narrower, and for commercial or privacy reasons. To make better use
centres.
data
of commercial data, the Government has introduced the Customer and Product
Data Act 2025.
Leveraging public data with AI
Wellington technology company Lynker Analytics uses AI to
capture building outlines across New Zealand from publicly-
The Act establishes a ‘consumer data right’ to give individuals and businesses greater choice and
owned aerial imagery, supplying Land Information New
control over data about them and requires any data exchange to be done within appropriate
Zealand with a national database that is open and available
guardrails. Underpinning regulation will set out how the Act will apply to designated sectors,
to all. This database influences regional and national
beginning with banking and followed by the energy sector. The Act opens the way for more
decisions, including in the building consenting process,
innovative use of data, including use of AI,, to provide new and improved services and products to
monitoring building and land use changes, risk modelling
customers.
and locating buildings in an emergency.
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Principle Four: Enabling policy
environment
New Zealand will shape AI policy to give businesses and innovators the
confidence to grow
Governments around the world are considering how to calibrate policy settings to maximise the benefits of
adopting AI whilst mitigating the risks. Burdensome regulatory measures can constrain innovation whilst AI,
like any new technology, can pose risks if used incorrectly or maliciously, meaning guardrails may be needed.
Providing confidence to use, innovate with and develop AI
The Government’s proportionate and risk-based approach is to maintain guardrails where needed to support
the safe use of AI, and to provide clarity to businesses, investors, and innovators about New Zealand’s policy
environment.
New Zealand has existing frameworks in areas such as privacy, consumer protection and human rights that are
largely principles-based, technology-neutral and are applicable to AI. They can be updated based on evidence,
as and when needed, to enable innovation or address harms. Different regulatory tools can be used to support
responsible AI innovation and use rather than developing standalone AI laws. Examples of these are set out
below.
Guidance can help people and organisations use AI responsibly in different contexts, such as:
•
Responsible AI Guidance for Business •
Responsible AI Guidance for the Public Service: GenAI •
Generative AI Guidance and Resources for educators
• National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and CERT NZ’s joint
Engaging with Artificial
Intelligence for secure AI use.
Toolkits can support responsible AI deployment and help users with regulatory compliance,
governance, risk management and transparency, including:
• The AI Forum’s
AI Governance website, a resource for organisations seeking inclusive and
responsible AI adoption
• The
Algorithm Impact Assessment Toolkit, originally developed for government agencies
to implement the Algorithm Charter for New Zealand but also applicable to business. It
offers a step-by-step process to identify and manage opportunities, risks and harms that
AI might present.
International standards set voluntary guidelines and can be drawn on by regulatory systems
to ensure quality, safety, security and interoperability of AI
. By referencing international
standards in domestic policy, New Zealand can align with international practice.
New Zealand contributed to the development of the first AI standards from the International
Organisation for Standardisation (ISO).
Protecting New Zealand’s free, open, and democratic society
AI is one of the most significant emerging, critical, and sensitive technologies outlined in New Zealand’s
National Security Strategy. Due to the inherent power and utility of AI, it holds both transformative potential,
but also poses risks that could be exploited by state, criminal, and terrorist actors to increase their capabilities,
and is finding increasing application in military settings.
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To support secure AI development and use, the Government will:
•
Understand the potential risks of AI as they emerge. Emerging, critical, and sensitive technology is a
National Security Intelligence Priority. Intelligence agencies focus on understanding the harms, benefits,
opportunities, and current and future impacts for New Zealand, and work closely with international
partners to scan for future threats.
•
Prepare by developing tools to protect New Zealand businesses and society from risk. This includes
recently released guidance
Secure Innovation: Security Advice for Emerging Technology Companies,
created in collaboration with Five Eyes security and intelligence agencies. Building security into the
everyday practices of New Zealand businesses right from the start sets up more robust, resilient, and more
attractive entities for investors and customers.
•
Work together with New Zealand’s strong network of international partners to
build standards and norms
for the responsible development and secure use of AI. This includes the Singapore-New Zealand enhanced
partnership agreement, and the United States-New Zealand Emerging and Critical Technology Dialogue.
AI Cybersecurity
AI has become a standard tool for those seeking to cause harm online, making it easier
and faster to conduct cyber-attacks. But it has become equally important for defending
networks. In the face of these and other evolving threats, the 2025 Cyber Security
Strategy revises New Zealand’s cyber security settings in line with the direction set out
in the National Security Strategy.
New Zealand’s government security agencies work with international partners to
develop a shared understanding of the cyber threats that all countries face, coordinate operations to disrupt
cyber-attacks and build norms of responsible state behaviour in cyberspace. This collaboration supports
domestic cyber security. NCSC, in coordination with international cybersecurity partners from the USA,
Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, has released
Engaging with Artificial Intelligence for
organisations seeking to deploy AI systems.
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Principle Five: Building Kiwi capacity
New Zealanders will have the skills to succeed in an AI-powered world
AI has the potential to create completely new goods and services, free up New Zealanders’ time at work to
focus on higher-value tasks and leisure, and enable more personalised public services, education and
healthcare.
To make the most of these opportunities, a different mix of skills will be required across the economy. In the
labour market, AI is already:
• Creating new jobs and professions, not just in the technology sector, where AI and data analytics skills are
fast-growing areas of demand, but also in industries where AI is creating new opportunities
• Augmenting jobs, where workers are using AI to perform at a far more advanced level, solving complex
problems and reprioritising their time for tasks requiring human skills, and
• Displace some job tasks through automation, where routine actions could be faster and more accurately
performed by AI, including through agentic AI, where AI operates autonomously to perform tasks within
given boundaries.
Factoring in AI, climate change and other mega-trends, the World Economic Forum estimates that there will be
a 7% net growth in jobs globally between 2025-2030. In other words, predictions of near-term mass layoffs
associated with AI are likely overblown, but things are still going to change.
The scale and timing of these impacts will vary across New Zealand’s economy. AI will be used first in areas
where there is a high volume of more readily automated tasks. AI is less likely to perform tasks that require
complex human judgement emotional intelligence, and dexterous manual labour. Some of these changes are
predictable, and others will only become clear with time. MBIE, in coordination with the New Zealand Council
of Trade Unions and Business New Zealand, actively monitors labour market trends, to help inform policy
ensuring New Zealand can make the transition to an AI-enabled economy.
Preparing learners for an AI-powered future
The Government envisions an education system that develops knowledgeable, well-rounded, critical thinkers
equipped to tackle future challenges. AI is a key part of this future, and students need new skills to leverage its
potential. The education system will prepare young New Zealanders for this transition.
Primary and Secondary Education
New Zealand’s national curricula – the New Zealand Curriculum and Te Marautanga o Aotearoa – already
include AI.
• In 2017, the Technology learning area and Hangarau wāhanga was revised to emphasise digital
technologies, including AI, in Years 11-13. The Ministry of Education is further revising these areas to
cover AI's workings, evolution, ethics, safety, security, privacy, and literacy. Draft content will be ready
for consultation by the end of 2025, with implementation by 2027.
• The Ministry of Education and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority have created guidance and
resources about the use of GenAI in NCEA assessments to ensure students appropriately use it to
support their learning.
• Teachers are using AI to enhance their capabilities, reducing workloads and allowing them to focus on
student support, including through AI tutors and AI-powered administrative tools.
• The Ministry of Education is exploring AI's role in supporting students with additional learning needs,
whilst making sure that ethical considerations, safety, security, and privacy are prioritised.
Tertiary Education
New Zealand’s tertiary providers offer world-class AI education, creating a talent pool in global demand.
Tertiary providers are fostering a domestic pipeline of AI talent to drive innovation and capture economic and
social benefits, offering both undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in AI-specialisations as well as
incorporating AI literacy into the syllabus of broader qualifications to reflect future work demands.
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Attracting international talent
AI skills are in global demand, which means New Zealand must make a compelling offer to attract the right
people. The Government is progressing several opportunities to boost the technology sector by attracting
highly specialised, skilled workers. Announced changes include:
• Allowing visa holders to work remotely whilst in New Zealand, encouraging highly skilled workers to visit
• Simplifying and streamlining the Active Investor Plus Visa to attract experienced investors, and
• Changing foreign investment fund tax settings to address the double-taxation risk facing people –
especially in the tech sector – remaining in or coming to New Zealand.
Building business AI capability
AI is already transforming business models, product and service offerings, and the ways that customers and
businesses interact. Kiwi employers and workers have strong incentives to explore what AI offers; there is
emerging evidence showing that AI can increase a firm’s productivity and add commercial value.
New Zealand businesses are using AI to streamline
AI can deliver firm-level benefits
repetitive tasks like data entry, inventory and
supply chain management, and customer support.
• 96% of surveyed NZ employers reported that AI
This is helping avoid errors, freeing up people to
significantly boosted worker efficiency (AI Forum,
2024)
focus on problem solving and other tasks, and
• Large NZ employers think AI could boost NZ firm-
enabling the processing of large amounts of data
level productivity by 49% (AWS, 2024)
to provide insights quickly for better decision-
• GenAI could free up 275 hours per worker annually
making. These gains are likely the tip of the iceberg
in NZ by 2038 (Accenture & Microsoft, 2024)
s New Zealand businesses expand use of AI to
• One tool saved NZ workers an average of 10 hours
design products tailored to individual customers,
per month (Microsoft, 2024)
predict market trends, and create new products
and services.
Rates of AI adoption are growing. In 2023 a Datacom survey of 200 larger firms found that only 48% of
businesses were using any form of AI; a year later this had grown to 66%. 80% said AI is positively impacting
business operations.
However, research indicates that there is a gap emerging between those already leveraging AI and those that
are not. For many, the challenge is knowing where to start, understanding the tools available, what tasks AI
can perform, and how to access training. Others looking to move from superficial AI use to sophisticated
deployment might need to understand how to leverage data, and what governance arrangements are
necessary. A range of resources is available to build business capability and support the wider adoption of AI.
Upskilling businesses to take the next step
Training
MBIE is exploring supports for small business, including piloting ‘train the trainer’ upskilling
through the Regional Business Partner Network and Business Mentors New Zealand.
Together, these channels support 5,000 businesses annually.
Spark is offering courses including
AI Foundations and
Executive AI for Business Mini-MBA,
designed for workers and business leaders at different stages of their AI journey.
Microsoft is offering the
AI Skills Initiative to a million people in New Zealand and Australia
to build the skills needed for an AI-enabled economy.
Networks of
Networks of expertise provide valuable opportunities to build capability through the
expertise
exchange of knowledge, best practice, resources and through collaborative effort. New
Zealand’s peak AI body, the AI Forum, is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation
funded by members. It functions as a hub for connections, advocacy, growing talent and
collaboration across the AI ecosystem.
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Areas of opportunity
AI will improve the delivery of public services and healthcare
An AI-capable Public Service delivering better outcomes for all New Zealanders
The Minister for Digitising Government has accelerated the adoption of AI within the Public Service The Public
Service AI Framework, informed by the OECD’s AI Principles, supports the responsible use of AI across the
public service, with the vision of modernising public
services and delivering better outcomes for all New
StatsNZ: Using AI to estimate provisional migration
Zealanders.
Up-to-date migration statistics are highly valuable to
The New Zealand Government Chief Digital Officer
government agencies, businesses and NGOs, but
(GCDO) has been appointed as the Public Service AI
difficult to calculate. To remedy this, in a world-first,
Lead to support the safe and responsible use of AI.
StatsNZ now uses AI to predict traveller behaviour.
This includes coordinating system leadership and
standard setting, stewarding AI uptake, supporting
StatsNZ measures migration through border-crossing
agencies in their AI initiatives, and collaborating
data. However, traditionally there is a long lag-time
with providers to ensure value for money.
involved in confirming whether a traveller has left or
The GCDO is leading a Public Service AI work
arrived permanently. Stats NZ has pioneered a
programme based on six pillars: governance and
machine learning driven estimation model for
guardrails, capability and innovation, and social
migration, using traveller attributes from
licence and global voice. These pillars guide the
administrative data gathered by the New Zealand
focus of the AI work programme, promoting
Customs Service (including passport data). It estimates
transparency, accountability, and trust in Public
the probability that a given border-crossing will result in
Service AI initiatives, while ensuring the safe and
migration. Other countries have sought out StatsNZ’s
responsible adoption of AI.
expertise in deploying their own modelling.
Collaboration and Innovation
The Public Service is partnering with the business sector to leverage broader resources and adhere to
international best practices. Government agencies are piloting and deploying AI technologies while maintaining
stringent governance, security, privacy, and accountability standards. Examples include chatbots for guidance,
document drafting tools, meeting summaries, and search functions. AI systems are also used for digital
detection and analysis of large image datasets, retinal scanning, detection and diagnosis, automated data
analysis, sentiment analysis, text and data analysis, factors modelling, submissions, and fraud detection.
The Public Service is embedding AI by…
…growing
Establishing an AI Community of Practice for digital practitioners, which allows for the
capabilities… sharing and discussion of AI use across agencies.
…guiding
Publishing an AI Toolbox to enable the sharing of artefacts and tools that can be used across
use…
multiple agencies.
…and
Adopting an All-of-Government, multi-year digital investment approach including
investing
investments in AI systems, infrastructure, and capabilities enabling the Public Service to
wisely.
drive innovation and enhance service delivery.
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AI for efficient, patient-focussed healthcare
Implemented well, AI offers many potential benefits to the delivery of healthcare in New Zealand
,4 improving
patient access to health services, with faster, accurate diagnostics, and more personalised care. For clinicians, it
will mean more time with patients and less time on administrative tasks. An AI-enabled health system could
also make better use of New Zealand’s world-leading AI medical technology firms, driving further innovation
and investment in domestic talent and growing the economy.
AI is changing how healthcare is delivered
Administrative tools
Diagnostic software
Clinical augmentation
AI can already ease the
AI is increasingly used to
In time, AI will be used to augment
administrative burden in the
assist with rapid, accurate
clinical decision-making, increasing
healthcare system, freeing up
diagnoses including medical
patient access to more timely,
resources for direct patient care.
imaging analysis, cancer
personalised healthcare. This could
Examples include AI-powered
detection, dermatology, and
include data-driven insights from
clinical notetaking, and AI chatbots
digital pathology.
wearable healthtech, digital twins for
for patient inquiries (e.g., booking
simulated medical interventions, and
appointments).
personalised treatment plans.
AI can ease pressures in the healthcare system
Like many advanced economies, New Zealand has an ageing population. This adds demand on healthcare
systems as older people often have higher care needs, with increased prevalence and complexity of health
conditions. At the same time, New Zealand is grappling with healthcare workforce shortages and infrastructure
challenges. In primary care, a national shortfall of almost 500 GPs is expected to roughly double in the next
decade. In secondary care, long wait times for emergency departments and access to specialist assessments
are now key targets for the health system.
These pressures are set to continue, and solutions will be complex. AI technology i can make a significant,
near-term, and cost-effective impact by automating time-intensive low-value tasks so workforce capacity can
be refocused on patient care.
Health New Zealand is already testing and developing AI tools to deliver better patient-centric care, including:
• Automated notetaking apps for clinical settings, designed to free up clinicians’ time to focus on patients
• Tools that could support timely access to diabetic retinopathy screening, and
• Radiology AI tools to ensure patients with serious medical conditions are identified quickly.
To support the safe and effective adoption of AI into the national healthcare system, the Ministry of Health is
leading a cross-sector work programme on Precision Health which includes AI as a focus. Health NZ already has
robust governance around the use of AI with the National AI and Algorithm Expert Advisory Group that draws
on a wide range of AI expertise to review and approve the deployment of AI solutions within Health NZ.
4 A 2023 report from the Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor –
Capturing the benefits of AI in
healthcare for Aotearoa New Zealand – sets out a range of opportunities to capture the benefits of AI in health,
as well as ways to manage the associated risks.
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Creating a regulatory framework that supports locally designed solutions
New Zealand has world-leading medical technology firms specialising in AI, that have successfully developed
and brought to market AI tools which are transforming the way clinicians are diagnosing and treating patients
around the world. These firms often export their product rather than making domestic offerings. Government
procurement rules are changing ton support better outcomes for New Zealanders and local tech firms.
The Government is also actively exploring options to introduce risk-based, proportionate regulation for AI
medical technology aligned to international approaches, so that New Zealand firms can confidently develop
products for use both at home and abroad.
New Zealand firms are leading the way in AI-enabled healthcare solutions
Toku
was founded by Dr Ehsan Vaghefi and Dr David Squirrell in 2019. It
developed AI to analyse eye exam scans, which can identify health
conditions such as cardiovascular and kidney disease. Toku is used in
clinical settings in New Zealand, Australia, the US, and the UK.
Formus Labs, founded by Dr Ju Zhang and Prof. Thor Besier in 2016,
developed software to make it easier for orthopaedic surgeons to plan for
and execute successful operations. It created the world’s first AI-
automated 3D planner for joint replacement surgeries, significantly
speeding up the pre-operative process by creating personalised surgical
plans.
Alimetry was established in 2019 by Prof. Greg O’Grady and Dr
Armen Gharibans and is focussed on supporting clinicians in the
care of patients with gastric conditions. It developed a non-
invasive wearable device that measures the electrical activity
produced by the gut. It then uses AI to isolate and analyse this
activity to deliver useful insights to clinicians to aid in the
diagnosis and treatment of patients.
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Annex
Background materials
What is Artificial Intelligence?
AI is a general purpose technology as it can be deployed in almost any setting and have transformative economic
impacts. There have been fewer than 30 such technologies throughout human history, including the steam
engine, electricity, and mass production.
AI is the ability of a computer system to perform tasks that would
normally require human intelligence.
The OECD defines an AI system as a
AI
machine-based system that, for explicit or implicit objectives, infers, from
the input it receives, how to generate outputs such as predictions,
Machine
Learning
content, recommendations, or decisions that can influence physical or
virtual environments. Different AI systems vary in their levels of autonomy
Deep
and adaptiveness after deployment. AI can process and produce
Learning
information faster than is humanly possible, weigh and select options,
make predictions, and create solutions and content by utilising patterns
and data.
GenAI
Generative AI (GenAI) is a type of AI system that can create or generate
new content such as text, images, video and music based off models and patterns detected in existing datasets. In
the space of a few years, GenAI has moved from a concept into an industry predicted to generate up to USD$4.4T
global corporate profits annually. Other rule and logic-based AI systems have been around for decades, such as
those used for playing online chess. More modern AI systems include machine- and deep-learning, which support
applications such as facial recognition, speech detection, and cybersecurity systems. AI depends on access to
large datasets and continuous streams of data. The technology requires high computing processing power and
specially developed software or programmes.
OECD AI Principles
This Strategy is derived from the OECD AI Policy Recommendations, which help policymakers
ensure that national AI policy maximises benefits and minimises risks. Behind these
recommendations are the OECD AI Principles. Together these form the first intergovernmental
standard on AI, designed to ensure that AI use is innovative, trustworthy, and respect human
rights and democratic values.
AI Policy Recommendations
AI Values-based Principles
1. Investing in AI research and development
1. Inclusive growth, sustainable development and
2. Fostering an inclusive AI-enabling ecosystem
well-being
3. Shaping an enabling interoperable governance
2. Human rights and democratic values, including
and policy environment for AI
fairness and privacy
4. Building human capacity and preparing for labour
3. Transparency and explainability
market transformation
4. Robustness, security and safety
5. International co-operation for trustworthy AI
5. Accountability
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