Record STMT-WFAE1B8Soft law

New Zealand’s Strategy for Artificial Intelligence: Investing with Confidence

New Zealand’s Strategy for Artificial Intelligence: Investing with confidence

Strategy State lawOceania · NZadopted

This document outlines New Zealand's national strategy for artificial intelligence, focusing on accelerating private sector AI adoption and innovation rather than foundational model development. It addresses key barriers to uptake such as regulatory uncertainty, skills shortages, and lack of awareness by committing to stable, light-touch policies and guidance aligned with OECD AI principles. The strategy also highlights New Zealand's strengths in sectors like agriculture, healthcare, and indigenous language preservation while strengthening international collaboration and research systems.

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

Who issued it

Ministry of Business, Innovation and EmploymentGovernment · NZ

Lead issuer

Legal forceSoft law

Under whose authorityState law

Judged fromfull text

Who it governs

CompaniesGeneral publicNational governmentResearchers and academics

This strategy is for New Zealand businesses, workers, researchers, and international investors seeking to understand the government's approach to AI adoption, policy settings, and support mechanisms.

Sectors

Cross-sector

What the document contains

What's covered

The document addresses New Zealand's economic rationale for focusing on AI adoption, evaluates the domestic state of play across various industries, identifies key barriers such as skills shortages and regulatory uncertainty, and outlines government actions including guidance, policy stability, international partnerships, and research system reforms.

What's missing

It contains no binding legal enforcement mechanisms, mandatory compliance standards, or punitive penalties for AI misuse, as it relies instead on existing laws and a voluntary, light-touch, principles-based framework.

Key takeaways

New Zealand’s strategy prioritizes practical AI adoption and application over high-end foundational model development due to capital and scale economics.
The government commits to a light-touch, principles-based approach to regulation, adopting the OECD AI Principles without adding heavy regulatory overlays.
The strategy aims to address barriers to uptake, including knowledge gaps among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and shortages in AI technical skills.
New Zealand firms are successfully applying AI across key sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, tourism, and indigenous language preservation.
The government is updating science, innovation, and technology systems and reforming foreign investment rules to attract capital and talent.

Principles it states

Inclusive growth, sustainable development and well-beingHuman rights and democratic values, including fairness and privacyTransparency and explainabilityRobustness, security and safetyAccountability

Outline

Minister’s Foreword 
 1. Understanding AI’s Unique Characteristics 
 2. Why New Zealand Needs an AI Strategy 
 3. New Zealand’s State of Play 
 4. Uptake Focus: New Zealand’s Strategic Approach 
 5. Addressing Barriers to AI Uptake in New Zealand 
 6. International Collaboration and Investment 
 7. Leveraging New Zealand’s Science, Innovation and Technology System 
 8. Conclusion 
 References

IssuedJuly 2025

Length5,704 words · 22 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

2/5

Non-discrimination and equitable treatment

Ethical considerations include ensuring AI systems do not perpetuate or amplify existing biases and maintaining human oversight of critical decisions.

Section 5

screening score · 2026-10-24

Human Dignity

1/5

Respect for the inherent worth of persons

This strategy confirms New Zealand’s adoption of the OECD’s AI Principles, aligning our approach with international best practice and confirms New Zealand’s commitment to innovation, transparency, and human rights.

Minister’s Foreword

screening score · 2026-10-24

Human Oversight

2/5

Humans remain in control of consequential decisions

Ethical considerations include ensuring AI systems do not perpetuate or amplify existing biases and maintaining human oversight of critical decisions.

Section 5

screening score · 2026-10-24

Privacy

2/5

Protection of personal data and private life

Privacy concerns particularly affect businesses handling sensitive customer information, whilst security concerns focus on both data protection and the integrity of AI-driven business processes.

Section 5

screening score · 2026-10-24

Transparency

3/5

Openness about how AI systems work and are used

This strategy confirms New Zealand’s adoption of the OECD’s AI Principles, aligning our approach with international best practice and confirms New Zealand’s commitment to innovation, transparency, and human rights.

Minister’s Foreword

screening score · 2026-10-24

Enforcement

1/5

Consequences and compliance mechanisms with real force

This document is a guide only. It should not be used as a substitute for legislation or legal advice.

Disclaimer

screening score · 2026-10-24

Impact Assessment

2/5

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

Ethical considerations include ensuring AI systems do not perpetuate or amplify existing biases and maintaining human oversight of critical decisions.

Section 5

screening score · 2026-10-24

Topics

Physical AI Governancecore

ai_adoption economic_growth private_sector innovation oecd_ai_principles artificial_intelligence