Balance New Zealand recognises that artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies have the potential to significantly improve productivity, innovation, and economic growth. At the same time, rapid advances in artificial intelligence and artificial general intelligence (AGI) present new risks for workers, democratic institutions, and the broader public.
Without appropriate safeguards, AI technologies may be used in ways that harm individuals, undermine trust in information, concentrate economic power, or displace workers without adequate support.
Balance New Zealand supports responsible innovation that allows New Zealand to benefit from technological progress while ensuring strong protections for workers, consumers, and democratic institutions.
This policy outlines Balance New Zealand’s approach to regulating the development and use of AI technologies, preventing harmful applications, protecting employment, and ensuring that the economic benefits of automation are shared across society.
Balance New Zealand believes the development and use of artificial intelligence must be guided by clear principles that protect people while encouraging responsible innovation.
First, AI systems must be developed and deployed in ways that protect human safety, dignity, and well-being. Technologies that create unacceptable risks of physical, psychological, economic, or democratic harm should not be permitted.
Second, individuals and organisations that develop or deploy AI systems must remain accountable for the outcomes produced by those technologies.
Third, the economic benefits generated by AI should be shared broadly across society rather than concentrated among a small number of technology companies or institutions.
Fourth, individuals should have the right to know when artificial intelligence is being used in decisions that affect them and should have access to meaningful information about how those decisions are made.
Finally, technological change must remain human-centred. Where automation replaces workers, appropriate transition support, retraining, and economic protections should be provided.
Balance New Zealand believes strong safety standards are essential for managing the risks associated with advanced AI systems.
High-impact artificial intelligence systems should not be deployed in New Zealand unless they comply with nationally defined safety standards. These standards should require developers and operators to conduct detailed risk assessments prior to deployment and to monitor systems continuously for harmful or unintended outcomes.
High-risk systems must also include human oversight for critical decisions and mechanisms that allow systems to be suspended or shut down if harmful behaviour occurs.
Artificial intelligence applications used in sensitive areas such as employment decisions, law enforcement, financial services, healthcare, or political communication should be subject to heightened regulatory scrutiny due to their potential impact on individuals and society.
Balance New Zealand believes strong safeguards are needed to prevent the misuse of AI technologies to deceive, exploit, or harm individuals and democratic institutions.
The creation or distribution of synthetic media designed to harm individuals or manipulate public processes should be treated as a serious offence.
This includes AI-generated material used to impersonate individuals for fraud, produce non-consensual explicit content, intimidate or blackmail individuals, or deliberately spread misinformation designed to interfere with democratic processes.
Platforms and digital intermediaries that knowingly distribute or profit from harmful AI-generated content should also be held accountable under appropriate regulatory frameworks.
Balance New Zealand believes transparency is essential to maintaining public trust in emerging technologies.
Content created using artificial intelligence in commercial, political, or media contexts should be clearly labelled so that the public understands when material has been generated by automated systems.
Individuals should also be informed when they are interacting with an artificial intelligence system rather than a human.
Where practical, developers should maintain records describing the data sources used to train artificial intelligence systems. Failing to disclose the use of AI in situations where transparency is required should be treated as deceptive conduct.
Balance New Zealand recognises that artificial intelligence may replace some types of work while creating new opportunities in other sectors.
To ensure the economic benefits of automation are shared fairly, Balance New Zealand supports the introduction of an Artificial Intelligence Adoption Levy, sometimes described as an automation fairness levy.
This levy would apply in circumstances where businesses replace roles previously performed by workers with automated systems that perform core productive tasks.
The purpose of the levy is to maintain the tax base, support worker transition programmes, and ensure the gains from automation contribute to the broader economy.
Appropriate exemptions may apply for small businesses, assistive technologies that support rather than replace workers, and technologies that serve clear public-interest purposes.
Balance New Zealand believes workers should not be abandoned when technological change affects their employment.
Where employees lose their jobs due to the introduction of AI systems, employers should contribute to transition support that helps affected workers move into new opportunities.
This support may include income assistance during the transition period as well as access to retraining, education programmes, and career transition services.
Funds collected through the automation levy would also support programmes designed to develop new digital skills, technology training, and recognised qualifications that help workers transition into emerging industries.
Balance New Zealand supports safeguards to prevent the misuse of AI technologies within workplaces.
Automated systems should not be used as the sole basis for hiring, firing, or disciplinary decisions without meaningful human oversight.
Employers should also avoid excessive workplace surveillance using artificial intelligence technologies where monitoring becomes disproportionate or invasive.
AI systems used in employment contexts must also comply with existing anti-discrimination laws to ensure automated decision-making does not unfairly disadvantage workers.
Balance New Zealand supports the creation of a national regulatory body responsible for overseeing artificial intelligence safety and compliance.
This authority would be responsible for establishing national AI safety standards, investigating breaches of AI regulations, issuing penalties where necessary, and advising the government on emerging risks associated with advanced technologies.
The authority would also coordinate with international partners to ensure New Zealand remains aligned with global safety frameworks for artificial intelligence.
Balance New Zealand recognises that artificial intelligence is a global technology that requires cooperation between nations.
New Zealand should work with international partners to develop shared safety standards, support cross-border enforcement against harmful AI uses, and promote global safeguards for high-risk AI systems.
International cooperation will help ensure that responsible technology development remains compatible with democratic values and human rights.
Because artificial intelligence technology continues to evolve rapidly, Balance New Zealand supports regular review of AI regulations to ensure laws remain effective.
Policy frameworks governing AI should be reviewed regularly, and the government should retain the ability to temporarily restrict or suspend the deployment of technologies that present significant risks to public safety or democratic institutions.
Particular caution should apply to emerging artificial general intelligence systems due to their potential long-term impact.
Balance New Zealand believes artificial intelligence should be developed in ways that benefit society while protecting workers, communities, and democratic institutions.
By introducing strong safety standards, promoting transparency, protecting workers during technological transitions, and ensuring responsible oversight, New Zealand can harness the benefits of AI while minimising potential harm.
This policy aims to ensure that technological progress strengthens the economy and improves lives while maintaining fairness, accountability, and public trust in emerging technologies.
