Our digital and data work programme
MBIE is driving more efficient, effective and responsive public services.
On this page I tēnei whārangi
Our digital infrastructure continues to have a foundational role in delivering essential services and supporting strategic functions across the organisation. Our enterprise systems enable service delivery to a range of stakeholders, from employees and consumers to landlords, migrants and business owners, while also supporting internal resource management through integrated digital platforms. These systems are underpinned by a robust infrastructure that is continuously maintained and modernised to ensure reliability, security and performance.
As part of a cross-sector working group led by the Department of Internal Affairs, MBIE is also digitising government services and modernising service delivery. By strengthening digital infrastructure, we are contributing to a wider public sector transformation, making services more accessible, resilient and future-ready.
In 2024/25, MBIE invested significantly in strengthening its digital environment. This included modernising server operating systems and storage platforms, upgrading software and refreshing older desktop devices. These initiatives were supported by structured maintenance plans designed to prevent service disruptions, manage costs and ensure compliance with security and regulatory standards.
A major focus this year has been the adoption and responsible integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technology. MBIE is actively exploring the use of AI across various functions, from machine learning to generative AI, with a strong emphasis on governance, safety and value. In 2024/25, Microsoft Copilot Chat was rolled out to all staff, providing AI-powered support for content generation, research and productivity. In parallel, a targeted rollout of Microsoft 365 Copilot began, offering intelligent assistance with document creation, editing and communication tasks.
To support the safe and effective use of AI, MBIE is establishing an AI incubator, an environment where emerging tools can be tested and evaluated under strict oversight. This incubator will help us explore new use cases, such as AI-assisted script translation, which has already shown early efficiency gains. These initiatives are part of a broader effort to embed AI into our digital ecosystem in a way that enhances staff capability, improves service delivery and supports evidence-based decision-making.
Complementing this work is the continued development of MBIE’s data infrastructure, following the launch of the data strategy, Te Mātahi. This year, we began building the Cloud Data Platform, which will help MBIE store and process data, improve reporting, enhance security and support data recovery in the event of a significant outage. Together with our AI efforts, this work is laying the foundation for a more intelligent, responsive and data-driven MBIE.