AI Forum Submission: Strengthening New Zealand’s Infrastructure Through Digital Innovation

Submission by AI Forum New Zealand’s Architecture, Engineering and Construction Working Group to the New Zealand Infrastructure Commission

The AI Forum of New Zealand has submitted comprehensive recommendations on the Draft National Infrastructure Plan, supporting the Commission’s 30-year vision whilst advocating for stronger integration of digital transformation and artificial intelligence to ensure future-ready infrastructure outcomes.

Key Position

The AI Forum’s Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) Working Group commends Te Waihanga’s ambition to establish a long-term, coordinated approach to infrastructure investment. However, the submission emphasises that the Plan’s impact can be significantly strengthened by embedding digital transformation, improving governance and delivery assurance, and ensuring inclusive infrastructure outcomes that leverage AI capabilities.

Critical Recommendations

The submission identifies eight key areas where digital innovation can transform New Zealand’s infrastructure sector:

Digital Enablement Strategy: Introducing a dedicated digital infrastructure roadmap, mandating ISO 19650 for government-funded projects, and establishing a Federated National Digital Twin (FNDT) programme to enable smarter, more resilient infrastructure planning and delivery.

Workforce Digital Capability: Embedding AI and digital literacy as core competencies in infrastructure roles, funding targeted training programmes for public sector employees, and expanding leadership frameworks to include digital competencies rather than relying solely on workforce growth.

Spatial Planning Innovation: Integrating digital spatial planning tools with emphasis on digital twins for real-time simulation and AI-driven analysis, supporting cross-sector coordination and enabling community participation through interactive visualisation platforms.

Te Ao Māori and Digital Co-Design

The submission highlights a critical gap in operationalising Māori-Crown partnerships through digital technologies. Key recommendations include developing digital engagement platforms that enable iwi and hapū meaningful participation, using AI to identify infrastructure inequities affecting Māori communities, and ensuring Māori data sovereignty principles guide digital infrastructure frameworks.

Climate Resilience Through Technology

With infrastructure lifespans of 40+ years and increasing severe weather events, the submission advocates for AI-powered predictive risk modelling, real-time monitoring systems, and climate-adaptive planning tools. This includes partnerships with Earth Science institutes to deploy sensor networks and AI-powered hazard detection systems.

The Innovation Imperative

The submission positions New Zealand at a pivotal transformation point where digital tools like Building Information Modelling (BIM), digital twins, and AI-driven asset management are becoming standard global practice. Countries like the UK and Singapore already have national BIM mandates and digital twin strategies underpinning infrastructure efficiency.

Moving Forward

The AI Forum’s submission demonstrates the technology sector’s commitment to supporting infrastructure transformation through evidence-based digital solutions. The organisation stands ready to collaborate with Te Waihanga and other stakeholders to ensure New Zealand’s infrastructure sector embraces the digital transformation necessary for long-term resilience and prosperity.