EveryAILaw.comNew Zealand
watch list Watch list — monitoring for future regulation
New Zealand is being monitored for emerging AI regulatory developments. Legislation is under development or proposed but not yet enacted or enforceable.
Monitoring details
- Status: No binding AI-specific legislation enacted as of March 2026. A Deepfake Digital Harm and Exploitation Bill is referenced as potentially forthcoming but not confirmed introduced. Existing frameworks (Privacy Act 2020, HRCNZ guidance) apply to AI incidentally.
- Signals: Policy attention on deepfakes and synthetic media; government reviewing AI governance options under existing digital safety frameworks.
- Trajectory: Promote to full entry if deepfake bill or broader AI legislation is introduced and enacted. Passive watch until a bill is tabled.
#### Micronesia (FM) — Flagged for review
- Status: Evaluation flagged potential binding AI-specific legislation — no confirmed text found. Federated States of Micronesia has very limited legislative infrastructure; binding AI law is unlikely but not ruled out.
- Trajectory: Verify existence of any binding instrument. If none confirmed, move to exclusions.
Supranational instruments that may apply
As a member of OECD, the following instruments may apply in New Zealand:
| Instrument | Body | Status | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISO/IEC 23894 AI Risk Management | OECD | voluntary | Feb 6, 2023 |
| ISO/IEC 38507 Governance of AI | OECD | voluntary | Apr 8, 2022 |
| ISO/IEC 42001 AI Management System | OECD | voluntary | Dec 18, 2023 |
| ISO/IEC 42005 AI Impact Assessment | OECD | voluntary | May 28, 2025 |
| OECD AI Principles | OECD | voluntary | May 22, 2019 |