Record STMT-W047C45Legally binding

Approach to work on Artificial Intelligence

Strategy State lawOceania · NZadopted

This Cabinet paper outlines New Zealand's strategic approach to artificial intelligence, favoring a light-touch, proportionate, and risk-based regulatory framework rather than a standalone AI Act. It adopts the OECD AI Principles as a key direction and establishes a cross-portfolio work programme to encourage AI uptake, support safe innovation in the public service, and align international engagement. The strategy aims to boost economic productivity and public sector performance while addressing public concerns around data security and unmitigated harms.

Summary and content fields are drawn from the document text and are pending editorial review.

Who issued it

Ministry of Science, Innovation and TechnologyGovernment (executive) · NZ

Lead issuer

Legal forceLegally binding

Under whose authorityState law

Judged fromfull text

Who it governs

National governmentPublic sector bodiesCompaniesResearchers and academics

Government ministers, public service agencies, and policymakers seeking to understand New Zealand's strategic direction and regulatory approach to artificial intelligence.

Sectors

Cross-sectorPublic administration · public service

What the document contains

What's covered

The document addresses New Zealand's national strategy for artificial intelligence across five domains: setting regulatory direction, enabling safe AI in public services, harnessing AI in the broader economy, prioritizing international engagement, and coordinating with national security frameworks. It emphasizes relying on existing regulatory mechanisms, leveraging the OECD AI Principles, and building public trust.

What's missing

The document lacks enforceable rules or specific legislative mandates, as it explicitly rejects developing a standalone AI Act at this stage and defers detailed operational guidance to future work programmes.

Key takeaways

New Zealand will adopt a light-touch, proportionate, and risk-based approach to AI regulation, preferring existing technology-neutral frameworks over a standalone AI Act.
The Government will promote the OECD AI Principles as a key direction for responsible AI stewardship.
The Government Chief Digital Officer (GCDO) will lead initiatives to support safe AI adoption and risk management across the public service.
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) will develop an economy-wide AI roadmap and risk management guidance for firms.
The strategy prioritizes international engagement on AI rules and norms as well as coordination with national security work streams.

Principles it states

Inclusive growth, sustainable development, and well-beingRespect for the rule of law, human rights, and democratic values, including fairness and privacyTransparency and explainabilityRobustness, security, and safetyAccountability

Outline

1. Proposal
2. Relation to government priorities
3. Executive Summary
4. Key challenges to securing the potential of AI in New Zealand
5. Addressing the challenges: a more strategic approach to AI
   - Domain 1: Setting a strategic approach
   - Domain 2: Enabling safe AI innovation in Public Services
   - Domain 3: Harnessing AI in the New Zealand economy
   - Domain 4: Prioritising our engagement on international rules and norms
   - Domain 5: Coordinating with work on national security
6. Treaty of Waitangi
7. Cross-Party support for AI adoption in Government
8. Implementation
9. Cost-of-living Implications
10. Financial Implications
11. Legislative Implications
12. Impact Analysis
13. Use of external resources
14. Consultation
15. Communications
16. Proactive Release
17. Recommendations
18. Appendix 1: OECD AI Principles

IssuedJune 2024

Length3,635 words · 10 pages

FormatNot recorded

Scopenational

How it scores

Pending review

Each score is backed by a quote verified against the document text. Editorial review has not yet confirmed them.

Fairness

3/5

Non-discrimination and equitable treatment

Most agencies are early in their AI journeys and, conscious that the public service is held to higher standards, are seeking support for managing privacy, security, and ethics/bias concerns.

Key challenges to securing the potential of AI in New Zealand

screening score · 2026-10-24

Human Dignity

1/5

Respect for the inherent worth of persons

This proposal does not present inconsistencies with the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 and the Human Rights Act 1993.

Human Rights

screening score · 2026-10-24

Human Oversight

1/5

Humans remain in control of consequential decisions

Responsible development and use of AI in New Zealand can help deliver better outcomes for people in New Zealand and boost productivity.

Proposal

screening score · 2026-10-24

Privacy

3/5

Protection of personal data and private life

Underpinning these are system-wide activities to build trust and confidence, such as Statistics NZ’s Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner’s guidance on privacy and AI.

Addressing the challenges: a more strategic approach to AI

screening score · 2026-10-24

Transparency

3/5

Openness about how AI systems work and are used

Transparency and explainability

Appendix 1

screening score · 2026-10-24

Enforcement

1/5

Consequences and compliance mechanisms with real force

We already have laws that provide some guardrails; further regulatory intervention should only be considered to unlock innovation or address acute risks

Executive Summary

screening score · 2026-10-24

Impact Assessment

4/5

Required assessment of an AI system's risks/impacts before or during use

Refreshed guidance and a new Assurance Model will strengthen risk management for the system.

Domain 2

screening score · 2026-10-24

Topics

artificial_intelligence regulation oecd_ai_principles public_service innovation