New national business survey to map AI use and economic shifts

A new nationwide survey is set to provide one of the most detailed snapshots yet of how New Zealand businesses are operating, including their use of artificial intelligence (AI) and responses to ongoing economic and technological change.

 

Announced by Statistics Minister Scott Simpson, the Survey of Business Operations will gather insights from around 20,000 businesses across the country, offering a comprehensive evidence base for both business leaders and government.

 

“Good decisions rely on quality data. This survey will give us a clearer understanding of how businesses across the economy are operating, the challenges they face, and where opportunities for growth and productivity lie,” Simpson says.

 

 

The survey builds on existing data collected by Stats NZ, retaining core questions to allow comparisons over time, while introducing new areas to address emerging information gaps.

 

These include:

For business operators, the results are expected to provide valuable benchmarking data—helping firms understand how their own practices compare with others in their sector and across the wider economy.

 

 

A key feature of the survey is its focus on artificial intelligence, reflecting the growing importance of the technology in driving productivity and competitiveness.

 

“For the first time, we will be able to measure AI use across a large and representative sample of New Zealand firms. This will help us understand where adoption is occurring, where barriers remain, and what this means for the wider economy,” Simpson says.

 

“Artificial Intelligence represents one of the biggest opportunities of our time and we want businesses to invest in this technology with confidence. Smarter, informed adoption and use of advanced technologies like AI will help New Zealand’s economy grow faster and enable better living standards and opportunities for all New Zealanders.”

 

 

The survey is being delivered jointly by Stats NZ and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, in partnership with Ipsos.

 

Data collection will begin in mid-May 2026, with selected businesses receiving invitations in early May. Participation is mandatory for those chosen, helping ensure the findings are robust and representative.

 

For business owners and operators, the survey signals a growing emphasis on data-driven policy—and a recognition of the role technology adoption, particularly AI, will play in future growth.

 

Insights from the survey are expected to inform government policy aimed at supporting business innovation and productivity, while also reducing the need for multiple smaller surveys by creating a shared evidence base across agencies.

 

Strict confidentiality protections will apply, with no identifying business information released. Findings are expected later in 2026.