FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
14 July 2026

The Tech Users Association of New Zealand (TUANZ) is urging a focused approach to the responsible use of generative AI, highlighting trust, transparency and human oversight as critical to unlocking its full value. With AI projected to contribute up to $76 billion to New Zealand’s economy  by 2038, TUANZ says realising this opportunity will depend on building and maintaining public trust. , 

As part of its 2026 policy programme, TUANZ today released its Responsible Generative AI position paper. The paper recognises strong early adoption across Aotearoa, while making it clear that sustained progress will rely on how effectively risks are managed and confidence is built. 

“AI presents a significant opportunity for New Zealand to lift productivity and strengthen our global competitiveness,” says Paul Littlefair, Chair of TUANZ. “Adoption is already underway, but trust will determine how far and how fast we can go.” 

While many New Zealanders are engaging with AI-enabled services, confidence remains uneven. Concerns around fairness, transparency and data use continue to shape willingness to adopt, and small businesses risk being left behind, with many yet to move from awareness to practical implementation. 

TUANZ’s position is that New Zealand’s competitive edge lies not just in adopting AI, but in becoming a trusted and responsible user of it. 

“We have an opportunity to lead not through scale, but through trust,” Littlefair says. “That means ensuring AI systems are transparent, accountable, and designed around people.” 

From principles to practical safeguards 

To support responsible adoption and build confidence in AI, TUANZ is calling for four priority areas:

• Invest in our own AI capabilities: While supporting global tech investment, the Government must be brave and invest in New Zealand’s own AI capabilities, including providing state-backed AI services to ensure our domestic research sector remains globally competitive.
• Mandate “Algorithmic Explainability” for High-Stakes Uses: Transition from soft law principles to targeted regulatory interventions. Organisations using AI for life-impacting decisions, such as banking or health, must provide clear, non-technical explanations of the logic used, ensuring no decision is hidden inside a “black box”.
• Establish a National “Human-in-the-Loop” Standard: With 74% of Kiwis feeling more comfortable with AI when they know a human can step in, industry standards must guarantee seamless escalation pathways to human support. This ensures human oversight is always available to correct biased outputs or AI “hallucinations”.
• Launch an “AI Readiness” Resource Hub for SMEs: To bridge the adoption gap, TUANZ offers to work collaboratively with the Government and other AI related groups to compile a practical toolset and webinar series specifically for SMEs, helping them move from hesitation to responsible implementation.

Building trust to unlock growth

TUANZ emphasises that responsible AI is not simply about managing risk, it is a key enabler of economic participation, innovation and long-term growth.

“Trust is fundamental to the success of AI,” says Littlefair. “When people and businesses feel confident in how these systems operate, they are more likely to adopt them, invest in them, and realise their full value.” 
“Getting this right positions New Zealand to capture the benefits of AI in a way that is inclusive, credible and aligned with our values.”

ENDS

Media Contact: Michelle Park on behalf of Paul Littlefair, Chair, TUANZ

Notes to the Editor: This media release marks Week 5 of the TUANZ Policy Release Plan, focusing on the AI opportunity versus the trust gap. Over the final week of the rollout, TUANZ will release its concluding position paper covering Access and Inclusion for all of Aotearoa.

MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

30 June 2026

The Tech Users Association of New Zealand (TUANZ) is urging a shift to a more proactive and enforceable approach to cyber security, warning that current settings place too much responsibility on individuals and small businesses to manage increasingly complex digital risks. 

As part of its 2026 policy programme, TUANZ today released its Trust and Safety position paper, alongside a discussion paper on social media age assurance. Together, they set out a clear direction: New Zealand must move beyond a “user beware” mindset and embed “security by design” across digital systems.

“New Zealand has made real progress in strengthening its cyber defences,” says Paul Littlefair, Chair of TUANZ. “Better coordination through the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and  initiatives like Malware Free Networks are delivering results. But the threat environment is evolving quickly, and our response needs to keep pace.” 

Recent data highlights both progress and pressure:

• Significant disruption of malicious cyber activity across national networks
• Tens of millions of dollars in harm avoided to critical organisations
• At the same time, escalating scam losses and declining confidence among small businesses 

With New Zealanders losing an estimated $200 million annually to scams, TUANZ warns that the rapid advancement of generative AI is amplifying risks. Sophisticated, highly personalised attacks are becoming easier to execute, and harder for individuals to identify. 

This is creating a growing equity gap, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), many of whom lack the capability and resources to keep up. A rising proportion of smaller organisations now report their cyber resilience as insufficient.

“Expecting individuals and small businesses to carry the burden of managing these risks is no longer tenable,” Littlefair says. “We need to design systems that are secure by default, not secure only for those with the time, expertise or resources to protect themselves.” 

From individual responsibility to system accountability 

TUANZ’s position is clear: improving digital trust requires a shift in where responsibility sits, from users to the systems and platforms they rely on.

To support this, TUANZ is calling for four priority actions:

• Develop an Enforceable National Cyber Security Approach: Transition from voluntary guidelines to enforceable legislation, including mandatory reporting for major cyber-attacks and enhanced capabilities for agencies to investigate and prosecute global cybercriminals targeting New Zealanders.
• Close the SME Gap with “Cyber Health Incentives”: Bridge the equity gap by introducing tax rebates or direct grants for SMEs to adopt essential security “hygiene,” such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) and secure cloud backups.
• Mandate Platform and Provider Accountability: Enact regulation that requires telecommunications and social media platforms to proactively detect and block fraudulent activity and deepfakes, shifting the burden of identifying AI-generated scams away from the individual user.
• Embed Cyber Safety as a Core Life Skill: Treat digital literacy with the same importance as reading and mathematics by mandating technology upskilling in the school curriculum, ensuring the next generation enters the workforce protected and prepared.

Supporting a balanced national conversation on online safety. 

Alongside the Trust and Safety paper, TUANZ has released a discussion paper, Navigating the Social Media Age-Gating Debate, to help inform policy development in a fast-moving and highly contested area. 

Rather than advocating a single solution, the paper sets out key principles to guide decision-making, including proportionality, practicality, privacy and equity. It also highlights the trade-offs inherent in age assurance approaches and the importance of grounding policy in evidence. 

“This is a complex issue with no simple answers,” Littlefair says. “What matters is that we have a clear, informed national conversation – and that we don’t default to solutions that shift responsibility back onto families without addressing system-level risks.”

Enabling growth through trust 

TUANZ emphasises that strengthening trust and safety is not only a defensive priority, but a critical enabler of growth. 

“Trust is fundamental to digital adoption,” says Littlefair. “If people don’t feel safe online, they will not fully engage with new technologies, including AI. Getting this right supports innovation, productivity, and the long-term competitiveness of our digital economy.” 

ENDS

Media Contact: Michelle Park on behalf of Paul Littlefair, Chair, TUANZ

Notes to the Editor: This release formed part of  TUANZ’s 2026 policy rollout, focused on strengthening New Zealand’s digital resilience and trust settings. The Trust and Safety position paper and accompanying discussion paper on social media age assurance are available as part of this programme below. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

16 June 2026

Building on Strong Foundations: TUANZ calls for cross-party tech strategy to unlock Aotearoa’s digital future

Aotearoa New Zealand has the talent, capability  and infrastructure to be a leading digital nation. But realising this potential will require a clear, long-term technology strategy that endures beyond electoral cycles, says the Tech Users Association of New Zealand (TUANZ).

Today, TUANZ begins releasing its 2026 Position Papers – Unlocking Aotearoa’s Digital Potential – setting out a practical roadmap to lift New Zealand’ back into the top tier of digital economies. 

TUANZ Chief Executive Craig Young says the opportunity is significant, but the current approach is holding the country back. 

“Technology can make New Zealand a better place – growing our economy, strengthening our communities and improving everyday life,” says Young.

“We have strong foundations, from world-class connectivity to a more renewable energy system. But to translate this into global leadership requires a more coordinated and long-term approach.”

Young says the key issue is not capability, but consistency. “Investment in technology and digital transformation doesn’t operate on three-year political cycles, and neither should our national approach. Without long-term certainty, we risk underinvesting and falling behind.”

Over the coming weeks, TUANZ will release detailed policy papers focused on five priority areas critical to New Zealand’s digital future: 

• Education to Employment: building the skills for a digital future.
• Trust and Safety: creating a secure, resilient digital environment.
• Transparent Data Use: strengthening trust through clarity and control.
• Responsible Generative AI: enabling safe, trusted adoption of emerging technologies.
• Access and Inclusion: ensuring equitable connectivity and opportunity.

“Our members are clear: what’s needed now is certainty, coordination, and commitment,” says Young. “We are calling on political leaders to work across party lines to deliver a long-term digital strategy that matches the scale of the opportunity.”

TUANZ will continue to represent the voice of digital users, advocating for outcomes that ensure every New Zealander can participate in, and benefit from, a thriving digital future.