New Zealand falls behind on AI regulation ahead of election
With AI reshaping the economy, only the Greens have released election policy while the government and other parties remain largely silent on regulation.
Artificial intelligence is set to transform New Zealand's economy through data centres and technology adoption, but the country lacks comprehensive policy to manage the technology's risks and benefits. So far only the Greens have released AI policy for the 2026 election, proposing a moratorium on new data centre consents, while the government has taken a light-touch approach focused on encouraging business adoption and attracting investment. Labour says it will release AI policy before the election, and National has indicated it will have more to say during the campaign. Experts argue New Zealand is falling behind its trading partners in regulation and should establish a dedicated government office to develop comprehensive rules across sectors.
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If AI is about to upend everything, where’s all the AI policy?
So far, the only party to release any AI policy for the 2026 election is the Greens. When prime minister Christopher Luxon addressed the crowd of the Rotorua business chamber last weekend in a now-infamous speech , he urged them…