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In this follow-on episode, Technology Partner Tom Maasland and Senior Associate Jess Bremner from our Corporate and Commercial team revisit their August 2025 discussion on New Zealand's data centre opportunity.
Drawing on insights from the recent Data Centre Leaders’ Summit, they explore how the conversation has shifted from identifying New Zealand's competitive advantages to considering how the country might realise its potential as a digital infrastructure hub, and the possible economic, infrastructure and societal benefits for future generations.
[00:20] Jess explains how the conversation has shifted significantly over the past year. Rather than debating whether New Zealand is an attractive destination for digital infrastructure investment, the focus is now on how the country might respond to growing AI-driven demand while supporting productivity, resilience, connectivity and economic development.
[02:32] Tom and Jess discuss why social licence emerged as a major theme at the New Zealand Data Centre Leaders Summit, highlighting the need for greater public understanding of societies reliance on data centres, transparency around power, water and land use, and the importance of demonstrating clear community benefits through jobs, investment and broader economic outcomes.
[03:54] Jess discusses some common concerns regarding data centre resource consumption and job creation. She notes that modern facilities are becoming increasingly efficient, that New Zealand's climate may provide certain operational advantages, and that while permanent employment numbers may be lower than in some traditional industries, data centres can create specialist operational roles and significant construction-related employment.
[05:27] Tom and Jess then discuss the growing importance of data centres as critical infrastructure underpinning modern economies, as well as the role of digital resilience as countries become increasingly dependent on technology and infrastructure beyond their borders.
[07:00] They consider how the broader opportunity may extend beyond the facilities themselves, with data centre investment potentially supporting renewable energy generation, infrastructure and connectivity improvements, regional development and workforce capability.
[08:38] Lastly, Jess reflects on the investment and digital infrastructure opportunities, as well as the increasingly sophisticated partnerships emerging across the sector. She discusses how collaboration between developers, energy providers, investors, technology companies and iwi may support the development of New Zealand's digital infrastructure while contributing to regional growth and digital resilience.

Information in this episode is accurate as at the date of recording, 26 August 2026.

Please contact Tom Maasland, Jess Bremner or our Technology team if you need legal advice and guidance on any of the topics discussed in the episode.
And don’t forget to rate, review or follow MinterEllisonRuddWatts wherever you get your podcasts. You can also email us directly at techsuite@minterellison.co.nz and sign up to receive technology updates via your inbox here.

Additional resources
Tech Suite | New Zealand as the next data centre frontier
From potential to progress: How can New Zealand realise its data centre opportunity?
Data Centre Leaders Summit New Zealand | 12th August 2026
For show notes and additional resources visit minterellison.co.nz/podcasts

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In this episode, Senior Associates Alex Church and Oliver Sutton discuss how artificial intelligence is transforming litigation practice. They explore emerging disclosure requirements, the risks associated with AI-generated content, the growing prevalence of deepfakes, and the practical ways AI is improving efficiency for lawyers, courts and businesses.
[00:05] Alex and Oliver introduce the key developments shaping AI's role in litigation. They discuss emerging disclosure obligations in New Zealand and overseas, recent court guidance, and why businesses should be paying close attention to changing expectations around AI governance and accountability.
[05:06] The discussion turns to the growing use of AI by self-represented litigants and the challenges this creates for courts and opposing parties. They include several New Zealand cases involving fabricated authorities and hallucinated case law, along with the Supreme Court's warning that misuse of AI in legal proceedings can have serious consequences.
[07:58] Alex and Oliver review recent overseas cases where lawyers have faced fines, disciplinary action and even disqualification for relying on AI-generated content without proper verification. They emphasise that responsibility extends beyond junior lawyers to supervising practitioners and law firms as a whole.
[12:05] Oliver highlights how AI-generated evidence and the increasing risk posed by deepfakes in both commercial and personal disputes. Exploring examples from New Zealand and overseas and explain why authentication and verification of electronic evidence are becoming critical components of dispute resolution.
[14:24]  Alex and Oliver highlight the significant efficiencies AI can deliver when used appropriately. They discuss applications including document review, case assessment, disclosure analysis, legal strategy testing and improving access to justice, all while stressing the importance of human oversight and professional judgment.
[17:27] They share three practical recommendations: stay informed about developing disclosure requirements, take deepfake risks seriously through strong governance and verification processes, and embrace AI where it meaningfully improves efficiency and outcomes. The overarching message is clear: AI is a powerful tool, but accountability remains with the user.
 
Information in this episode is accurate as at the date of recording, 3 August 2026.
 
Please contact Alex Church, Oliver Sutton or our Litigation team if you need any legal advice and guidance on any of the topics discussed in the episode. 
And don’t forget to rate, review or follow MinterEllisonRuddWatts wherever you get your podcasts. You can also email us directly at website.enquiries@minterellison.co.nz and sign up to receive litigation updates via your inbox here. 
For show notes and additional resources visit minterellison.co.nz/podcasts

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In this episode, employment partners Gillian Service and Megan Evans revisit their earlier discussion on the proposed reforms and compare those expectations against the final legislation. They unpack what has changed, what has stayed the same, and the practical steps employers should be taking now to prepare for implementation.
[00:30] Gillian and Megan reflect on their previous discussion about the proposed reforms and explain that most of the anticipated changes have made their way into the final Act. They recap the key themes from the earlier Bill and identify the refinements introduced during the legislative process.
[02:03] Megan explains the shift from weeks-based annual leave to an hours-based accrual system. The pair discuss the increased flexibility for employees, the treatment of accrued leave balances during transition, and the ability for employees to cash out up to 25% of their annual leave balance each year.
[06:11] Gillian outlines how sick leave will accrue from day one of employment and be measured in hours rather than days. They discuss the implications for part-time employees, fixed-term workers and employees with multiple jobs, noting that while the overall entitlement remains broadly the same, the way it is calculated will change significantly.
[08:39] Gillian discusses the removal of six-month qualifying periods for bereavement leave and family violence leave. These entitlements will now be available from the start of employment, including for casual and fixed-term employees.
[09:10] Gillian and Megan examine the new public holiday framework and the revised "otherwise working day" test, including the use of a 13-week look-back period. They explain how the final legislation addresses concerns raised during the select committee process and why employers should review employment agreements and work patterns regularly.
[13:42] The discussion turns to employees who hold multiple roles with the same employer and the introduction of the notional roster concept. Megan explains how notional rosters will be used to calculate leave entitlements where working patterns are not clearly defined in employment agreements.
[16:36] Gillian highlights one of the major objectives of the reforms: simplifying leave payments. The pair discuss the move away from multiple Holidays Act calculations to a single hourly leave rate, the treatment of allowances, and the introduction of mandatory pay statements.
[19:50] Megan explains how the new Leave Compensation Payment regime will operate. They discuss the 12.5% payment applicable to additional and casual hours, why time off in lieu cannot be used as a substitute, and the payroll implications for employers.
[21:31] Gillian and Megan clarify the difference between standard hours, additional hours and casual hours under the Act. They emphasise that correctly categorising hours will be critical because leave entitlements and Leave Compensation Payments are calculated differently for each category.
[24:08] The two-year transition period is examined in detail. The pair discuss when the legislation will take effect, the interaction between employment agreements and the new minimum standards, and the risks of delaying preparation for implementation.
[28:07] Gillian summarises the conversation by identifying four practical priorities for employers: understanding workforce data, engaging with payroll providers early, preparing employee communications, and continuing Holidays Act remediation work. Gillian emphasises that organisations that begin preparing now will be better positioned for a smooth transition to the new regime.

Resources
Unpacking the Holidays Act Reform

Information in this episode is correct as at the date of recording, Wednesday, 19 2026.
 
Please contact Gillian Service, Megan Evans or our Employment law team if you need any legal advice and guidance on any of the topics discussed in this episode. And don’t forget to rate, review or follow MinterEllisonRuddWatts wherever you get your podcasts. You can also email us directly at website.enquiries@minterellison.co.nz and sign up to receive Employment law updates via your inbox here.
For show notes and additional resources visit minterellison.co.nz/podcasts

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In this episode of Level Playing Field, Sports Law Partner Richard Wells, and Senior Associate Sarah Redding discuss New Zealand's major events framework and the legislation that underpins the hosting of international sporting events. They explore the purpose and operation of the Major Events Management Act 2007 (MEMA), the process for declaring an event a "major event", and the legal protections that come with that designation. Richard and Sarah also look back at some of the major sporting events New Zealand has hosted over the last two decades and unpack how these events are funded, managed and supported by government investment.
[00:05] Sarah and Richard introduce the concept of major events in New Zealand sport and explain why the government introduced specific legislation ahead of the 2011 Rugby World Cup. They discuss how MEMA was designed to protect sponsors, broadcasters and event organisers by providing legal tools to combat ambush marketing, ticket scalping and other commercial risks.
[03:23] Richard explains the process for declaring an event a major event under MEMA. He outlines the role of MBIE, the Minister and the Governor-General, and discusses the factors considered when determining whether an event warrants special legal protections.
[05:37] Richard and Sarah reflect on the wide range of major events New Zealand has hosted since MEMA came into force, from age-group world championships through to Rugby World Cups, Cricket World Cups, the FIFA Women's World Cup and the rise of major women's sporting events.
[08:20] The discussion turns to the protections available once an event has been designated a major event. Richard explains key features of the legislation, including restrictions on ambush marketing, clean zones, ticket scalping protections and measures designed to protect the commercial integrity of major events.
[11:56] Sarah and Richard discuss the commercial realities of hosting major events, including sponsorship, broadcasting rights and government investment. They explore how the economic, social and infrastructure benefits of hosting major events are weighed against the costs involved.
[13:49] Richard outlines the Major Events Fund and explains how its eligibility criteria differ from the legal designation process under MEMA. He discusses the government's focus on international profile, visitation, economic outcomes and alignment with broader strategic objectives.
[16:10] Richard and Sarah examine the additional considerations for sport-specific funding, including athlete development pathways, high-performance sport priorities and participation outcomes. They discuss the positive impact major women's sporting events have had on the profile and accessibility of sport in New Zealand.
[17:37] Richard explains the reporting obligations that accompany government funding and the importance of leverage and legacy planning. He highlights the government's expectation that major events deliver long-term benefits through infrastructure, participation growth, capability development and enduring community outcomes.
[19:28] Looking ahead to the next episode, Sarah and Richard preview the commercial and governance structures behind major events, including local organising committees, funding arrangements, stakeholder involvement and the agreements that sit behind successful event delivery.

Information in this episode is correct as at the date of recording, Wednesday, 5 August 2026.

Please contact Richard Wells, Sarah Redding or our Sports law team if you need any legal advice and guidance on any of the topics discussed in this episode. And don’t forget to rate, review or follow MinterEllisonRuddWatts wherever you get your podcasts. You can also email us directly at website.enquiries@minterellison.co.nz and sign up to receive Sports law updates via your inbox here.
For show notes and additional resources visit minterellison.co.nz/podcasts

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In this episode, privacy law specialists Richard Wells and Suzy McMillan discuss practical steps organisations can take to ensure their privacy policies remain fit for purpose in the face of growing AI use.
[01:21] Richard asks how the Privacy Act 2020 framework, and in particular Information Privacy Principle (IPP) 3, applies when organisations use AI. Suzy explains that the key starting point is determining whether AI is actually being used to process personal information, as this will trigger privacy obligations pursuant to the Act.
[03:06] Richard and Suzy discuss whether different types of AI require different levels of disclosure, noting that low-risk productivity tools generally impose a lesser disclosure burden than AI used for decision-making, eligibility assessments, or credit scoring purposes.
[04:42] Suzy and Richard talk through the practical information organisations should include in their privacy policies, including acknowledging the use of AI and explaining its purpose in plain language, clarifying who processes the personal data, and being transparent about whether data may be used to train or improve AI models.
[06:37] They then consider the AI guidance from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC) and the important role Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs) play in ensuring privacy policies accurately reflect how AI tools process personal information.
[08:49] Suzy talks through the privacy implications of AI model training and secondary use of personal information, highlighting the importance of reviewing vendor contracts to ensure any AI providers' data practices align with an organisations privacy policy.
[11:42] Richard and Suzy close out the episode by considering what good AI disclosure should look like in practice and the key steps organisations should undertake to bring their privacy policy up to standard, including conducting thorough PIAs, reviewing vendor terms, ensuring compliance against IPP 3, and training staff on the appropriate use of AI tools.

Information in this episode is accurate as at the date of recording, 3 July 2026.

Please contact Richard Wells, Suzy McMillan or our Technology team if you need legal advice and guidance on any of the topics discussed in the episode.
And don’t forget to rate, review or follow MinterEllisonRuddWatts wherever you get your podcasts. You can also email us directly at techsuite@minterellison.co.nz and sign up to receive technology updates via your inbox here.

Additional resources 
Privacy Act 2020
Biometrics Processing Privacy Code 2025
Tech Suite | How to comply with IPP12: Cross border disclosures of personal information
AI-and-the-Information-Privacy-Principles (September 2023) | Office of the Privacy Commissioner.pdf
Does the Office of the Privacy Commissioner approve or endorse Artificial Intelligence providers? (November 2025) | Office of the Privacy Commissioner
For show notes and additional resources visit minterellison.co.nz/podcasts