Māori Data Sovereignty Central to New Zealand AI and Digital Resilience Strategy

University of Auckland Professor Gehan Gunasekara is calling for a strengthened digital resilience and regulatory framework as artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into New Zealand life. In a report published by Waatea News on 30 July 2026, Gunasekara warned that the country faces economic and strategic risks due to a heavy reliance on overseas-owned cloud platforms for data storage and AI services. Central to this national conversation is the concept of Māori data sovereignty. Māori organisations have long advocated for information regarding Māori communities, whakapapa, health, language, and cultural knowledge to be managed under frameworks that recognise tino rangatiratanga. As AI systems depend on massive datasets to train algorithms, ensuring that Indigenous rights over data are respected has become a priority for researchers and community leaders. The push for digital sovereignty comes as the Government seeks to attract international technology investment while balancing national interests. The use of AI is already widespread across New Zealand’s education sector, healthcare, and government administration. However, the Green Party has suggested a pause on new data centre consents to allow for the development of a national strategy that addresses environmental impacts and digital autonomy. Cybersecurity experts and researchers noted that ensuring Māori data is collected and used in culturally appropriate ways is essential for the ethical evolution of AI in Aotearoa. Professor Gunasekara argued that a coordinated national strategy is necessary to ensure New Zealand retains control over its critical information and sensitive records, even as they are managed through global digital services.