DIA launches AI training programmes for public service leaders

NEWS - eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth 

The Government Chief Digital Officer is rolling out artificial intelligence (AI) training programmes for public service leaders as part of a broader strategy to accelerate AI adoption across government departments.

Murray Davey, deputy government chief digital officer, presented on the initiative at the HiNZ Digital Health AI Summit on May 21, highlighting the government's commitment to embracing AI technologies while ensuring their responsible use.

"We are running the first of three AI masterclasses this week for public service leaders and decision makers," Davey said.

"These are sessions that we are delivering in partnership with the Public Service Commission."

The masterclasses target chief executives and senior leaders across the public service, aiming to improve their understanding of AI and increase confidence in supporting AI adoption within their organisations.

Following the masterclasses, a five-week online training course will be piloted in June for 50 public servants. The course covers foundational AI knowledge, taking participants from basic concepts through to generating practical AI implementation ideas for their departments.

Like the Masterclasses, this course is being delivered in partnership with the Public Service Commission.

"If that goes well, then we will share it across the whole public service and make it available for everybody to use," Davey explained.

These training initiatives form part of a public service AI work programme established to enable the safe and responsible uptake of AI technologies across government.

Davey said a survey conducted late last year identified 108 AI use cases across 37 different public service departments, but he said this count is already outdated as implementation continues to accelerate.

"Most of these AI use cases focus on internal use, so it is about improving productivity, automation, routine tasks and efficiencies," he said.

Current examples include an AI search system being piloted to work across government websites and ACC using AI to speed up contact centre call transcriptions.

To support agencies in implementing AI responsibly, the government released a Public Service AI Framework in January 2025, which provides guidance for the responsible use of AI across the New Zealand public service.

This framework will complement the National AI Strategy being developed by the Ministry of Business (MBIE), Innovation and Employment for the whole of New Zealand.

"We work with MBIE to make sure that those two things—our Public Service framework and the whole country strategy—line up and work together," Davey said.

Additional resources include responsible AI guidance for public service use, released in February 2025, which provides more detailed support for agencies exploring and adopting generative AI technologies.

The government is also developing an AI assurance model to help agencies demonstrate that risks are being managed and legal requirements are being met.

To facilitate knowledge sharing, an AI community of practice was established late last year, which aims to accelerate AI use and idea sharing throughout the public service.

"We have got up to 160 participants from across 80 different organisations," Davey said. 

"It's really an opportunity to share ideas, to share successes and to share learning across agencies."

Davey said that maintaining public trust remains paramount as AI adoption increases.

"We are all, as public servants, custodians of public trust, protecting the information that people share with us and being transparent about how we're using AI is really important," he said.

Davey challenged health leaders at the Summit to think beyond simply improving existing processes with AI.

"Rather than just using AI to enable and improve our current practices, how can we use it to fundamentally rethink the way that services are delivered for the benefit of all New Zealanders?" he asked.

Image: Murray Davey, deputy government chief digital officer, presenting at the HiNZ Digital Health AI Summit

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