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Congratulations

Congratulations to Emeritus Professor Prof Sandhya Samarasinghe on this well-deserved recognition by Lincoln University (NZ), celebrating a career dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence, computational intelligence, and interdisciplinary research.Sandhya has made an enduring contribution to AI research in Aotearoa through her work across agriculture, environmental science, health, and engineering, while also mentoring generations of students and researchers.We also acknowledge Sandhya's v...

New board

A slightly belated welcome to our new Board and thank you to outgoing Board members following this years elections.Our new Board 👉 Albert Bifet (University of Waikato) - Co-Chair👉 Richard Green (University of Canterbury) - Co-Chair👉 Mengjie Zhang (Victoria University of Wellington) - Co Deputy Chair👉 Veronica Liesaputra (University of Otago) - Co Deputy Chair👉 Daniel Wilson (Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland) - Treasurer👉 Fangfang Zhang (Victoria University of Wellin...

2026 ANZ Digital Twin Summit

Our Executive Director Jannat Maqbool will be Chairing the 2026 ANZ DigitalTwin Summit in Wellington later this week. For more information visit - https://lnkd.in/gimqFCY8The Summit brings together leaders from across infrastructure, urbanplanning, utilities, technology, research, and wider to explore how digital twins, AI and data are helping shape smarter, more connected and more resilient places.For AIRA, this is a valuable opportunity to contribute to conversations at the intersection of AI,...

Endeavour Fund 2026 contract extension round

Congratulations to Board co-Chair Richard Green on being amongst the 19 research programmes receiving funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's Endeavour Fund Contract Extension Round, for their work in "Enabling unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) to use tools in complex dynamic environments".For more information on this research visit - https://lnkd.in/gfwa5ZxdCongratulations also to the other 18 research programmes and the 45 smart ideas proposals receiving a funding ex...

Digital technologies reshaping the agrifood landscape

An in-person opportunity to join a seminar on 23 February 2026 at Lincoln University (NZ) exploring how digital technologies are reshaping the agrifood landscape, with Forbes Elworthy and Paul Windemuller.For more information visit https://www.lincoln.ac.nz/news-and-events/the-digitisation-of-agribusiness-and-the-future-role-of-artificial-intelligence-in-agrifood-systems/...

Communication and Information Commissioner appointment

Congratulations to Association Board Member Dr Mahsa McCauley (Mohaghegh) on her appointment as Communication and Information Commissioner for the New Zealand National Commission for UNESCO by Hon Hon Erica Stanford MP, Minister of Education.For more information visit https://www.aut.ac.nz/news/celebrating-success/dr-mahsa-mohaghegh-mccauley...

Conference recordings now available

Visit www.ainz.ai to access photos and recordings from this years conference hosting by Victoria University of Wellington in November. ...

Forget robot doctors: what's holding back AI in healthcare

Introduction: Beyond the HypeWe are constantly bombarded with futuristic visions of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Headlines promise AI doctors on our smartphones, robot surgeons performing flawless operations, and algorithms predicting disease years in advance. While the potential is immense, the reality on the ground is far more nuanced, challenging, and in many ways, more interesting than the hype suggests.A recent panel brought together a diverse group of New Zealand experts—spanni...

September webinar - Digital AI and Ag

Digital AI in agriculture has great potential to help farmers make management decisions based on gathering data, transforming that data into actionable information and then taking those actions. In this session Professor Rains presented work his lab is currently working on to assess multiple data management schemes for storage, analysis and management to track each individual plants growth, crop inputs and field production. Professor Rains also went over some recent work to forecast irrigation b...

Mid year workshop session recordings now available

We had a great turnout for our inaugural mid year workshop #AI Research Nexus and now recordings from the following sessions are now live at the event website - OECD AI Principles and New Zealand panel discussionResearch presentationsAI in Education panel discussionWhat is different about data ethics presentation...

November conference abstract submission now open

The fourth annual Artificial Intelligence Researchers Association conference will be hosted by Te Whiri Kawe | Centre for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at Te Herenga Waka | Victoria University of Wellington on 17 and 18 November.This annual conference is intended to be the usual meeting point of the artificial intelligence research community with the main goal of the event being to foster discussion around the latest advances in artificial intelligence.We invite Artificial Intelligenc...

Abstracts now invited for our November conference

We invite Artificial Intelligence Research Association members to participate in the 4th Annual Artificial Intelligence Researchers Association Conference, taking place on 17 and 18 November at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand.The deadline for abstract submission is 5.00pm, Sunday 31 AugustFor more information visit the conference website....

Our new Board

Taking this opportunity to welcome our 2025/2026 Board and to once again thank outgoing Board members for their contribution over the last 12 or so months. For more information visit our website - www.airesearchers.nz Albert Bifet Richard Green Mengjie Zhang Julian Maclaren Daniel Wilson Fangfang Zhang Dr. Dwain Allan Paul Brown Bing Xue Seyed Reza Shahamiri Thomas H Li Dr Mahsa McCauley (Mohaghegh) Bernhard Pfahringer Nicholas Knowlton Prof Sandhya Samarasinghe Stephen Cranefield Farhad Mehdipo...

Tech on the tree tops: How AI can protect forests

An international team has trained a Siamese Attention U-Net model on Google Earth imagery to spot forest-cover changes automatically—no massive hand-labelled datasets required. The study finds the planet lost 100 million ha of forest between 2000-2022, and the new pipeline can flag the high-risk zones that need urgent protection. New Zealand’s own University of Otago is among the collaborators, putting Kiwi researchers at the centre of this low-cost, scalable tech that could soon monitor Aot...

7 food threat "mega-trends" and what AI can do about them

University of Otago researchers Margaret Thorsen and Dist. Prof. Phil Bremer have catalogued the big risks—from climate-driven pathogens to supply-chain shocks—and show how AI can spot contamination, slash waste and steady food production. Their Newsroom NZ analysis argues that smart algorithms plus better data could future-proof food safety, but only if we tackle cost and skills gaps for smaller producers. Find out more...

Ewe losses on NZ farms may be reduced, says Massey University researcher

Recent Massey University led research tracking 34 New Zealand flocks found 25-35 % of ewes are lost or culled each year—a hit Massey vet Dr Anne Ridler says can be trimmed with smarter decision-making tools. The multi-institution team (Massey, Lincoln University (NZ), The University of Hong Kong) is now zeroing in on the drivers of that wastage. For Aotearoa’s hashtag#AI community, that’s a call to action: edge sensors, yard-camera vision models and hashtag#predictive health hashtag#analyt...

AI and the future of education

Our Executive Director spoke to Naomii Seah for this story in School news about the potential for AI in Education. The article unpacks how educators can harness generative AI while ensuring that human connection, critical thinking, and inclusive learning remain at the centre. A timely read for anyone exploring how technology can support—not replace—teachers.Find out more...

AI driven underwater tech set to boost NZ mussel industry by $80Mn

University of Canterbury engineers led by our Co-Chair South Island Professor Richard Green are trialling autonomous underwater robots that scan mussel lines in 3-D, use computer vision to size shellfish and flag pests—all without sending divers overboard. Early modelling suggests the tech could lift Greenshell™ mussel yields by NZ $80 million a year, helping the sector hit the Government’s NZ$1 billion target under the Aquaculture Strategy 2035.For New Zealand’s AI research community th...

Mid year workshop planned

We have put together another opportunity for researchers and students to come together for in-depth and timely discussion of emerging insights in artificial intelligence.This year we are hosted by the University of Canterbury and will have discussion papers taking center stage, accompanied by research talks and related sessions.The initiative aims to provide an immersive environment for exchanging ideas, fostering collaborations, and exploring AI’s potential to support priorities important for...

Generative Reo Māori AI – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

On April 10, 2024, AI researchers gathered at the 2024 Artificial Intelligence Researchers Association Conference for a panel discussion around Generative Reo Māori AI. The panel was chaired by Associate Professor Te Taka Keegan (Waikato-Maniapoto, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Whakaue) from the University of Waikato. The panellists consisted of:Lynell Tuffery Huria (Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāruahine Rangi, Ngā Rauru Kītahi) Tumu Whakahaere | Managing Partner, Kahui LegalTe Mihinga Kōmene (Waikato-Maniapoto...

Accountants and Large Language Models

Our Executive Director, Jannat Maqbool, was recently interviewed for CPA Australia's In The Black magazine about customising Large Language Models.Read more here....

Getting strategic with national AI

Read more here....

Following our third AGM we welcome our new Board

Following our third AGM we welcome our new Board including our Executive Committee - Albert Bifet & Richard Green who were re-elected as Co-Chairs, Julian Maclaren & Mengjie Zhang who were re-elected as Co Deputy Chairs, Gill Dobbie - Treasurer, Fangfang Zhang - Secretary, Varvara Vetrova - Diversity Chair, and Dr. Dwain Allan + Paul Brown as our Tangata Whenua representatives. The wider board includes Seyed Reza Shahamiri, Bing Xue, Thomas Li, Mahsa Mohaghegh, Bernard Pfahringer, Ruili ...

AI's impact on society panel summary

On April 11, 2024, AI researchers gathered at the 2024 Artificial Intelligence Researchers Association Conference for a riveting panel discussion chaired by Albert Bifet and Phil Mourot from the University of Waikato. The panelists, Daniel Wilson, Emma MacDonald, Jonathan Kim, and Paul Seiler, shared their expert insights on the transformative potential of AI, particularly within the context of Aotearoa New Zealand.The discussion kicked off with each panellist sharing their background and perspe...

Latest whitepaper!

Our main message in the 2024 edition of Aotearoa NZ AI: A strategic approach is that we must invest in leveraging our strong AI research base to increase the competitiveness and productivity of Aotearoa New Zealand in a manner that suits our needs and priorities. Building and strengthening mechanisms that efficiently disseminate AI expertise from research to industry has the potential to significantly increase productivity and prosperity for all of Aotearoa New Zealand.Download the paper here....