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In this episode, Technology Partners Tom Maasland and Kate Cruickshank discuss the technology policy issues shaping the 2026 Election and the potential implications for businesses and the wider technology sector.
[01:49] Kate and Tom discuss how technology policy has moved into the mainstream this election, with AI governance and data centre infrastructure emerging as key election issues.
[03:00] They consider the different approaches political parties are proposing to AI regulation. They note that while there is broad consensus on AI's economic potential, their discussion highlights the contrasting policy views, ranging from National's light-touch regulatory approach to Labour's proposed AI governance framework and the Greens' regulation-first model.
[08:07] Tom and Kate discuss how political parties are positioning technology as a key driver of economic growth, including policies aimed at attracting investment, fostering innovation, reducing regulatory barriers, supporting fintech, increasing R&D investment, and strengthening New Zealand's competitiveness in the global digital economy.
[10:42] Kate highlights how the rapid growth of AI is increasing attention on data centres, energy demand, renewable generation and the cost of supporting digital infrastructure.
[13:14] They also consider the growing regulatory focus on technology-specific legislation such as the Deepfake Digital Harm and Exploitation Bill and the Online (Minimum Age and Child Safety Risk Assessment) Safety Bill.
[15:54] Tom emphasises why technology policy, AI governance, and cybersecurity must remain high priorities for executive teams regardless of the election outcome. They highlight the importance of strong governance, risk management, and staying informed as policy and regulatory developments continue to evolve after election day.

Information in this episode is current as at the date of recording, Friday 23 October 2026.

Please contact Tom Maasland, Kate Cruickshank 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 
We're proud to again support Policy.nz – a free, independent, non-partisan platform that helps voters compare parties and policies in one place. The site has the latest election information, making it easier to cut through the noise and understand where parties stand on the issues that matter most.
2026 Building the Future - National 
Electrify NZ 2.0 Policy - National 
AI in New Zealand’s Interests - NZ Labour
Safer Online - NZ Labour
Banking for Everyone - NZ Labour 
Unlocking New Zealand's Digital Economy – ACT NZ 
Safe, sovereign AI policy – Greens
Breatkthrough Economy Policy - Opportunity
Digital Future Policy - Opportunity
New Zealand's AI Strategy: Investing with confidence | Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
Deepfake Digital Harm and Exploitation Bill | New Zealand Legislation
Online Safety (Minimum Age and Child Safety Risk Assessment) Bill | New Zealand Legislation
Labour unveils AI Action Plan: What an incoming Labour Government would do on AI
What the Online Safety Bill means for digital platforms operating in New Zealand
For show notes and additional resources visit minterellison.co.nz/podcasts

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In this final episode of the Election 2026 podcast series, Solicitor Michael O’Brien is joined by Partner Briony Davies and Special Counsel Daniel Fielding to discuss what happens after New Zealanders cast their votes. Their discussion explores the constitutional, legal and political processes that take place between election day and the formation of a new government, including coalition negotiations, the role of the Governor-General, and what businesses and stakeholders should be watching during this period.
[01:36] Briony and Daniel explain what elections do from a legal and constitutional perspective, the distinction between Parliament and the executive government, and the political, legal and constitutional conventions that shape government formation.
[04:32] The conversation moves on to discuss what happens immediately after election day, including preliminary and official election results, the caretaker convention, the Governor-General’s role, and how confidence in the House ultimately determines who forms the next government.
[11:13] Michael then turns to coalition negotiations under MMP, covering how parties negotiate policy commitments, ministerial responsibilities and support arrangements, as well as the different structures governments can take, from formal coalitions to confidence and supply arrangements.
[16:18] Briony and Daniel examine how coalition and support agreements can provide valuable insight into a new government's priorities and discuss what stakeholders should look for when assessing likely policy direction.
[17:46] They next explore the role of the public service during coalition negotiations, including how negotiating parties can access information and analysis, and the safeguards in place to preserve political neutrality.
[20:41] The discussion turns to what happens once a government is formed, including the swearing-in of ministers, the Speech from the Throne and Briefings to Incoming Ministers, and why each provides important signals about the government's priorities and legislative agenda.
[24:30] Briony explains the reinstatement of parliamentary business and what it means for unfinished legislation, petitions and other matters before Parliament, highlighting why this process is particularly important for organisations with an interest in law reform.
 
Information in this podcast is correct as at the date of recording, 17 June 2026.

Please contact Briony Davies, Daniel Fielding, or a member of our Public Law team if you need legal advice or guidance on any of the topics discussed in this episode.
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 election updates via your inbox here. 
Additional resources
We're proud to again support Policy.nz – a free, independent, non-partisan platform that helps voters compare parties and policies in one place. The site has the latest election information, making it easier to cut through the noise and understand where parties stand on the issues that matter most.
For show notes and additional resources visit minterellison.co.nz/podcasts

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In this episode, privacy experts Richard Wells and Suzy McMillan discuss key privacy law obligations when engaging service providers, including who remains responsible for personal information under the Privacy Act 2020, the often-overlooked requirements of IPP 5, and practical steps organisations should take to manage security risks.
[01:18] Richard and Suzy discuss who remains responsible for personal information when it is handed over to a third-party service provider. Suzy explains that, under section 11 of the Privacy Act, organisations generally retain responsibility for personal information, even when it is stored or processed by a third party on their behalf.
[05:47] Suzy explains the requirements of IPP 5(a) and (b), which require organisations to implement reasonable security safeguards to protect personal information and to take reasonable steps to prevent its unauthorised use or disclosure by service providers.
[08:25] They discuss security safeguards organisations should implement in practice, covering not only technical measures such as access controls, multi-factor authentication and monitoring, but also organisational controls. They highlight the importance of thorough procurement due diligence, robust contractual protections, ongoing governance and oversight, privacy impact assessments, and embedding privacy-by-design principles throughout the project lifecycle.
[12:03] Suzy highlights that, to meet their IPP 5 obligations, organisations must independently verify a service provider’s security controls rather than relying solely on marketing claims or assurances. While certifications such as ISO 27001 can provide useful evidence of a provider’s security posture, she notes that they are only one part of the picture and should be supported by ongoing due diligence and regular verification.
[16:22] They consider some practical steps organisations can take to strengthen IPP 5 compliance, including mapping suppliers that hold or process your organisations personal information, reviewing contracts, understanding breach notification processes, independently verifying security controls, and conducting regular reviews.
[18:26] Lastly Richard highlights the importance of organisations maintaining a tested incident response plan so they can respond quickly and effectively if a privacy incident occurs.

Information in this episode is accurate as at the date of recording, 23 September 2026.

Please contact Richard Wells, Suzy McMillan or our Data protection team if you need legal advice and guidance on any of the topics discussed in the episode.
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
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 move from the theory behind New Zealand's major events framework to the practical realities of how it operates on the ground. Building on the first episode in this two-part series, they explore how the Major Events Management Act 2007 (MEMA) protects sponsors, event organisers and government investment through ambush marketing restrictions, clean zones and enforcement mechanisms. Richard and Sarah also discuss how the major events regime has evolved since the 2011 Rugby World Cup and the balance that has emerged between commercial protection and legitimate business activity.
[01:04] Sarah explains how MEMA creates a protective commercial and physical “bubble” around major events. She outlines the two key pillars of the regime: restrictions on unauthorised associations with events and the use of clean zones and transport routes to protect official sponsors and event partners.
[03:34] Richard and Sarah discuss how MEMA extends beyond traditional intellectual property protections. They examine the use of protected event words, logos and emblems, and reflect on how the legislation provided powerful protections during the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
[06:04] The discussion turns to clean zones and clean transport routes. Richard explains how these controls operate in practice, why they are important for sponsors and broadcasters, and the logistical challenges involved in creating commercially exclusive event environments.
[09:49] Looking at how the regime has evolved over time, Sarah reflects on how major events have moved away from the broader protections seen during Rugby World Cup 2011 towards a more targeted and balanced approach focused on venues and core event branding.
[11:58] Richard and Sarah explore enforcement. They discuss the significant powers available under MEMA, including warnings, seizure powers and penalties, and how advances in technology have enabled a more proportionate approach to compliance and enforcement.
[15:11] Sarah outlines the Act’s escalation process, from informal warnings through to civil remedies and criminal penalties. She also discusses the protections afforded to enforcement officers who exercise their powers reasonably and in good faith.
[17:39] The pair examine some of the practical challenges that arise when applying the legislation, including the tension between broad protections and exceptions for media reporting, personal opinions and legitimate business activities.
[19:36] Richard and Sarah discuss the complexities of clean zone boundaries, visibility issues, private land exceptions and billboard advertising, highlighting some of the challenges event organisers and businesses face during major events.
[21:04] Bringing the series to a close, Richard reflects on how MEMA sits alongside New Zealand’s wider intellectual property framework. He explains how the regime has matured over time and how a more balanced approach can benefit event organisers, sponsors, sports and the wider community.

Information in this episode is correct as at the date of recording, 7 September 2026. 

Please contact Richard Wells, Sarah Redding or our Sports Law team if you need legal advice or 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 of Election 2026, Partner and Head of our IP team Christopher Young is joined by Daniel Fielding, Special Counsel, and Michael O'Brien, Solicitor, from our Public Law team to explore New Zealand's election advertising regime. They discuss the broad definition of election advertising, the intellectual property and advertising law issues that can arise during campaigns, and the key Electoral Act rules that political parties, candidates and third parties need to understand.
[00:10] Chris introduces the episode and its focus on election year advertising and the rules surrounding it. What is means, who can do it, and where people can get themselves into trouble.
[01:10] Daniel and Michael explain the surprisingly broad definition of election advertising and discuss why an advertisement can be captured by electoral law even when influencing voter behaviour was not its intended purpose. They also explore the policy reasons behind regulating political advertising, including its impact on democratic participation and public decision-making.
[05:21] Chris discusses the intellectual property issues that can arise during election campaigns, including trademarks, branding, copyright infringement and the use of music in campaign advertising. The conversation covers artist objections, moral rights, endorsement risks, and the lessons political parties can learn from previous disputes in New Zealand and overseas.
[14:28] They discuss the different complaint pathways available for election advertising, including the roles of the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA). Daniel and Michael explain how complaints are assessed, discuss recent examples involving political parties, and consider how AI-generated campaign content may create new challenges in future elections.
[20:57] Daniel outlines some of the most important Electoral Act requirements affecting election advertising, including promoter statements, third-party promoters, campaign spending thresholds and election hoardings. They also discuss how local council bylaws interact with election signage and the compliance issues that can arise during the campaign period.
[28:12] They examine the rules governing election broadcasts outside the formal election period, the offence of publishing false statements immediately before election day, and the restrictions that apply to political advertising once voting is underway. The episode finishes with a discussion on social media, election day campaigning, and why some of New Zealand's electoral rules continue to generate debate.

Information in this podcast is correct as at the date of recording, 10 August 2026.
 
Please contact Christopher Young, Daniel Fielding, our Public law team, or our Intellectual property team, if you need legal advice and guidance on any of the topics discussed in this episode.
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 election updates via your inbox here. 

Additional resources
We're proud to again support Policy.nz – a free, independent, non-partisan platform that helps voters compare parties and policies in one place. The site has the latest election information, making it easier to cut through the noise and understand where parties stand on the issues that matter most.
For show notes and additional resources visit minterellison.co.nz/podcasts