AI principles guide the ethical development and deployment of AI systems by companies and other organisations, while AI disclaimers are statements that acknowledge AI-generated content or outcomes – see my previous post for more details.
There is an international best practice benchmark set by the OECD which is widely accepted and adapted by many countries. New Zealand is a current member of the OECD as are more than 39 other countries with others awaiting approval to join.
AI Principles from the OECD
Values-based principles
- Inclusive growth, sustainable development and well-being
- Human rights and democratic values, including fairness and privacy
- Transparency and explainability
- Robustness, security and safety icon
- Accountability
Recommendations for policy makers
- Investing in AI research and development
- Fostering an inclusive AI-enabling ecosystem icon
- Shaping an enabling interoperable governance and policy environment for AI
- Building human capacity and preparing for labour market transition icon
- International co-operation for trustworthy AI
While it is important to adapt international principles and localise them to recognise sovereignty and regional identity, here in Aotearoa New Zealand, we have unique considerations when it comes to writing AI Principles: in particular, responsible companies will include a commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, which recognises Māori Data Sovereignty as found in the Waitangi Tribunal’s WAI 2522 Report on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) 2023 report). Te Tiriti has also been recignised in the latest AI guidance for government in the Public Sector AI Framework .
It is vital that any AI developer include and recognise Te Tiriti and Māori in their AI Principles. Some commercial incentives could include the recent findings of the Māori economy:
- The Māori economic contribution to the New Zealand economy had grown to $32 billion
- Professional, scientific and technical services are the primary contributors to GDP
- The Māori asset base is $126 billion
- There were nearly 24,000 Māori-owned businesses – with the largest number located in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
- Māori tourism contributed $1.2b to GDP in 2023
- The recent findings from the AI Forum’s 2025 AI Productivity Report that reflects about 40% of AI businesses already to this.
AI Principles of Aotearoa New Zealand Hosting Providers
Using the list of New Zealand Cloud Providers in the article Māori and Iwi investments in NZ data centres I have identified those who have published their AI Principles and listed them below.
I then I completed a Cultural Impact Assessment (CIA) on their principles. Overall, the principles all appear to be based upon the international best practices, all fail to recognise Te Tiriti and the status that it gives to Māori Data in their AI Principles.
Despite the above, many of these companies and others also have separate Māori Data Sovereignty/Te Tiriti commitments and other community commitments that are not reflected in their AI Principles, which creates more questions than answers. Perhaps it is a reflection of how quickly AI is changing and the principles are yet to be updated or simply that companies do not see Māori and Te Tiriti as being relevant with their AI Principles. se, it may well be the obvious that they do not believe AI.
Other examples of New Zealand companies AI Principles
- Acumen
- ClubMed
- Engineering New Zealand
- Ernest Young
- Insight EDS
- Marketing Association
- New Zealand AI
- NZ Herald
- NZ Police
- RNZ
- Stuff
- Te Poari Kaimātai Hinengaro o Aotearoa / New Zealand Psychologists Board
- The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR)
- The Southern Institute of Technology (SIT)
- Thomson Reuters
- TVNZ
- Victoria University of Wellington
Different findings were found compared to the tech companies AI Principles. Education providers and Police were more likely to include Te Tiriti and Māori and offer at length considerations, while private companies rely on non localised AI Principles.
As Aotearoa New Zealand consumers, we can choose which companies we spend our money with and which companies deserve our loyalty. Among other considerations, as consumers we should also be checking companies AI Principles to ensure they align with our own personal values.