{"slug":"new-zealand","name":"New Zealand","short_name":"New Zealand","iso_code":"NZ","jurisdiction_type":"country","region":"Oceania","subregion":null,"overview":"New Zealand released its first national AI Strategy in July 2025 (Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment), taking a light-touch, principles-based approach that relies on existing law rather than a dedicated AI act, alongside Responsible AI Guidance for Businesses. Public-sector use is guided by the Algorithm Charter for Aotearoa New Zealand (2020) and the Public Service AI Framework (2025); the Privacy Act 2020 and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner's AI guidance apply to personal data.","regulatory_status_summary":"National AI Strategy (2025) and responsible-AI guidance as policy; Algorithm Charter for government agencies; no AI-specific law.","binding_vs_guidance":"Binding: none recorded. Strategy or guidance: New Zealand AI Strategy (2025); Algorithm Charter for Aotearoa New Zealand.","current_priorities":"Adoption in small businesses and the public sector, skills, privacy-compliant use of generative AI, international interoperability.","regulators":[{"name":"Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)","url":"https://www.mbie.govt.nz/","role":"AI strategy lead"},{"name":"Office of the Privacy Commissioner","url":"https://www.privacy.org.nz/","role":"Privacy Act 2020; AI and privacy guidance"},{"name":"Stats NZ (Government Chief Data Steward)","url":"https://www.data.govt.nz/","role":"Algorithm Charter stewardship"}],"official_sources":[{"title":"New Zealand's Strategy for Artificial Intelligence","publisher":"Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment","url":"https://www.mbie.govt.nz/business-and-employment/business/support-for-business/artificial-intelligence-strategy","document_date":"2025-07-08","document_type":"strategy","tier":1},{"title":"Algorithm Charter for Aotearoa New Zealand","publisher":"Stats NZ","url":"https://www.data.govt.nz/toolkit/data-ethics/government-algorithm-transparency-and-accountability/algorithm-charter/","document_date":"2020-07-28","document_type":"guidance","tier":1}],"related_jurisdictions":["australia","singapore","uk"],"url":"https://aipolicytracker.org/ai-regulation-new-zealand","source":{"official_source_url":"https://www.mbie.govt.nz/business-and-employment/business/support-for-business/artificial-intelligence-strategy","source_title":"New Zealand's Strategy for Artificial Intelligence","source_publisher":"Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment","source_document_date":"2025-07-08","source_reference":null,"source_tier":1,"last_checked_at":"2026-09-26","last_verified_at":"2026-09-26","review_status":"verified","confidence_level":"medium","content_version":1,"change_summary":"Added in the September 2026 global coverage expansion; overview composed from the listed instruments and official sources. Reviewer to confirm regulators and status.","reviewed_by":"Bhaskar Bhatt"},"policies":[{"slug":"new-zealand-ai-strategy-2025","id":"AIPT-POL-0143","permanent_url":"https://aipolicytracker.org/id/AIPT-POL-0143","title":"New Zealand's Strategy for Artificial Intelligence: Investing with Confidence","short_title":"New Zealand AI Strategy (2025)","jurisdiction":"new-zealand","instrument_type":"strategy","status":"adopted","is_binding":false,"ai_specific":true,"issuing_body":"Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment","summary_plain":"Published in July 2025, the strategy aims to lift AI adoption by businesses, especially small and medium enterprises, and the public sector, by reducing barriers, providing clear guidance (Responsible AI Guidance for Businesses), building skills and pursuing a light-touch, proportionate regulatory approach that relies on existing law and international alignment (OECD principles). It rules out a standalone AI act for now.","adopted_on":"2025-07-08","in_force_on":null,"applies_from":null,"official_source_url":"https://www.mbie.govt.nz/business-and-employment/business/support-for-business/artificial-intelligence-strategy","last_verified_at":"2026-09-26","reviewed_by":"Bhaskar Bhatt","content_version":1,"review_status":"verified","confidence_level":"medium","updated_at":"2026-10-15T06:46:24+00:00","url":"https://aipolicytracker.org/policies/new-zealand-ai-strategy-2025"},{"slug":"new-zealand-algorithm-charter","id":"AIPT-POL-0144","permanent_url":"https://aipolicytracker.org/id/AIPT-POL-0144","title":"Algorithm Charter for Aotearoa New Zealand (2020)","short_title":"Algorithm Charter for Aotearoa New Zealand","jurisdiction":"new-zealand","instrument_type":"code_of_practice","status":"voluntary_standard","is_binding":false,"ai_specific":true,"issuing_body":"Stats NZ (Government Chief Data Steward) on behalf of signatory agencies","summary_plain":"Launched in July 2020, the charter commits signatory government agencies to transparency (plain-English explanations of how algorithms are used), partnership with Māori (Te Tiriti), people-focused use, data fit for purpose, privacy, ethics and human rights safeguards, human oversight and channels for challenge, applied through a risk matrix for high-impact algorithms. Around 30 agencies have signed; a 2021 review recommended stronger implementation.","adopted_on":"2020-07-28","in_force_on":null,"applies_from":null,"official_source_url":"https://www.data.govt.nz/toolkit/data-ethics/government-algorithm-transparency-and-accountability/algorithm-charter/","last_verified_at":"2026-09-26","reviewed_by":"Bhaskar Bhatt","content_version":1,"review_status":"verified","confidence_level":"high","updated_at":"2026-10-15T06:46:24+00:00","url":"https://aipolicytracker.org/policies/new-zealand-algorithm-charter"}]}