The government’s AI strategy for the private sector w/ Dr Collin Bjork and Dr Karaitiana Taiuru: 14 July, 2025

Recently, Science and Technology Minister, Shane Reti, announced New Zealand’s first-ever artificial intelligence, or AI, strategy.

With this, Aotearoa becomes the last country in the OECD to establish guidelines around the use of AI.

Despite the establishment of this strategy, which is aimed at enticing the private sector to incorporate and invest in AI, there are concerns that the strategy does not introduce any new legislation to regulate AI, rather using already existing legislation, and fails to address ethical concerns.

News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to Dr Collin Bjork — a senior Communications lecturer at Massey University, about this strategy document, and how much of an impact this strategy will have on the private sector to be better engaged with AI usage.

They also spoke to AI and technology governor, Dr Karaitiana Taiuru, about how te ao Māori is engaged with this strategy, and whether more needs to be done.