NZ Election 2026: Where's the AI Policy?

Andrew Urquhart talks with Tash McGill about the lack of substantive AI policy from major New Zealand political parties just 45 days out from the election, despite global leaders including King Charles recently meeting with heads of Nvidia, Google DeepMind, OpenAI and Anthropic to discuss AI's risks and benefits. Tash outlines each party's stance: National has only a light-touch policy citing GDP gains, Labour has released the most comprehensive plan (an "AI in New Zealand's Interest" action plan with a proposed Office of AI), the Greens take the strongest precautionary approach grounded in data sovereignty and tikanga, ACT favours targeted, disclosure-based regulation, and both NZ First and TOP currently have no published AI policy.

The pair debate whether New Zealand's typical "wait and see" approach to new technology is wise given AI's risks, with Tash arguing that NZ has often been a testing ground rather than a late adopter, and warning that delaying engagement could mean missing out on shaping global regulatory decisions that will affect the country anyway. She concludes that AI is coming regardless of political readiness, and voters should scrutinise parties' positions on it as a key issue this election.

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