About Good Ancestors New Zealand
Supporting New Zealand's leaders to be good ancestors to future generations
Our mission
Decisions governments make today will shape the world future generations inherit. Good Ancestors New Zealand is committed to helping New Zealand get those decisions right.
Our current focus is advanced AI. New Zealand will not build frontier AI, but it is exposed to its risks and needs a clear plan for managing them. We research these risks, recommend practical policy and make the case to decision-makers and the public.
How we work
Policy Research
We publish practical research on the risks advanced AI poses to New Zealand. This will include policy white papers, legal analysis and expert surveys to underpin credible recommendations for policymakers.
Public information
We explain AI risk in plain terms, through the media and through tools such as our AI Election Scorecard, so New Zealanders can take part in decisions affecting their future.
Working with decision-makers
We take our recommendations to MPs, officials and political parties across the political spectrum.
We believe New Zealand needs its own domestic AI safety policy, and that it can play a useful part in international efforts, starting by joining the international network of AI Safety Institutes. You can read our research on the Publications page and our recent commentary on the Media page.
Our values
At Good Ancestors New Zealand we have chosen values that highlight what we believe in and the standards we want to hold ourselves to.
Evidence-based
We ground our policy recommendations in rigorous research, expert consultation, and transparent methodology. We quantify claims wherever possible and invite criticism.
Practical
We focus on actionable recommendations that can be implemented within existing political and institutional frameworks.
Forward-looking
We prioritise interventions that protect not just current generations but future generations who cannot yet speak for themselves.
Democratic
The risks we work on affect everyone, so we believe in empowering everyone to engage meaningfully with the policy conversations that shape our collective future.
Non-partisan
We work across the political spectrum to find common ground and identify pragmatic policy solutions.
Our team
Proven impact in Australia
We're proud to share the Good Ancestors name, mission and values with Good Ancestors Australia, an independent organisation pursuing the same goals across the Tasman.
They have built a strong track record since 2022, and we work closely with them and draw on their experience and original policy research, including their work supporting the establishment of the Australian AI Safety Institute.