The Government is paving the way for automated decision-making within the social security system.
A bill, which has been making its way through Parliament on Friday, will allow the Ministry of Social Development to approve the use of automated decision-making (ADM) for certain functions.
Social Development Minister Louise Upston has assured opposition MPs that ADM will only be used for simple binary decisions.
But the way the bill is drafted is broad - it would allow ADM for any social assistance programmes and any statutory powers, duties or functions exercised by the Ministry.
The policy change was announced as a Budget 2025 initiative, however it is being passed under urgency as part of the Government’s 2026 budget measures.
