Trustworthy AI in Aotearoa AI Principles
Published by the Law, Society and Ethics Working Group of the AI Forum, this document sets out high-level guiding principles for Trustworthy AI in Aotearoa New Zealand. It serves as a first step to encourage ethical and legal considerations in AI design, development, and deployment. The principles cover compliance with existing laws and human rights, fairness, reliability, transparency, human oversight, and promotion of public wellbeing.
Summary and content fields are drawn from the document text and are pending editorial review.
Who issued it
Who it governs
Anyone involved in designing, developing, deploying, or using artificial intelligence systems in New Zealand.
What the document contains
The document addresses foundational legal and ethical considerations for artificial intelligence stakeholders across the AI system lifecycle. It emphasizes compliance with existing laws, human rights, indigenous rights, fairness, security, transparency, human oversight, and community wellbeing.
The document does not provide detailed technical regulations, exhaustive legal interpretations, or specific compliance enforcement mechanisms, functioning instead as a high-level framework.
- The document provides high-level guiding principles for designing, developing, and using trustworthy AI in New Zealand.
- Existing laws and regulations, including human rights law and Te Tiriti o Waitangi, apply to AI and are not replaced by ethical principles.
- AI systems must be reliable, secure, accurate, and protect individual privacy throughout their lifecycle.
- The operation and impacts of AI systems should be transparent, traceable, auditable, and generally explainable.
- AI stakeholders must retain appropriate human oversight and determine accountability before deploying technologies capable of harm.
· Purpose of the Principles: A First Step · The Role of Government: More Than Ethics · Alignment with Emerging AI Ethical Norms · Conclusion · Trustworthy AI in Aotearoa: The AI Principles
How it scores
Each score is backed by a quote verified against the document text. Editorial review has not yet confirmed them.
Accountability
3/5Clear responsibility for AI outcomes
Technologies capable of harming individuals or groups should not be deployed until stakeholders have determined appropriate accountability and liability.
4. HUMAN OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY
screening score · 2026-10-23
Human Dignity
3/5Respect for the inherent worth of persons
Human rights law plays a key role. It provides a ready-made, internationally tested and legitimate framework of civil, political, economic, cultural and social values
MORE THAN ETHICS
screening score · 2026-10-23
Human Oversight
3/5Humans remain in control of consequential decisions
AI stakeholders should retain an appropriate level of human oversight of AI systems and their outputs.
4. HUMAN OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY
screening score · 2026-10-23
Privacy
3/5Protection of personal data and private life
AI stakeholders must ensure AI systems and related data are reliable, accurate and secure and the privacy of individuals is protected throughout the AI system’s life cycle
2. RELIABILITY, SECURITY AND PRIVACY
screening score · 2026-10-23
Enforcement
0/5Consequences and compliance mechanisms with real force
The AI Principles
screening score · 2026-10-23
Impact Assessment
3/5Required assessment of an AI system's risks/impacts before or during use
AI stakeholders must ensure AI systems and related data are reliable, accurate and secure and the privacy of individuals is protected throughout the AI system’s life cycle, with potential risks identified and managed on an ongoing basis.
The AI Principles
screening score · 2026-10-23