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AI Advisory Pilot is sponsored by New Zealand Government (Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) / New Zealand Institute for Advanced Technology). This pilot program helps small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in New Zealand harness artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance productivity and foster growth.
It provides co-funded support to develop and implement tailored AI plans, with guidance from experienced specialists.
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The Complete Guide to the MBIE AI Advisory Pilot (2026) | Implement AI | Implement AI Skip to content Back to Resources Eligibility is broader than most businesses expect. Your organisation needs to be a New Zealand-registered business with fewer than 500 employees, operating for at least 12 months, and not already receiving other government AI funding. You do not need to have any existing AI capability.
In fact, the programme is specifically designed for businesses that are just getting started. The consulting engagement must be delivered by an MBIE-registered advisory firm, and it must produce a documented AI strategy or implementation plan as a deliverable. The application process is straightforward.
You submit a brief proposal outlining your business, the consulting engagement you are planning, the expected outcomes, and a quote from your chosen advisory firm. MBIE reviews applications on a rolling basis, with most decisions returned within three to four weeks. Once approved, the co-funding is paid directly to your advisory firm, meaning you only pay your 50% share upfront.
There are no clawback provisions as long as the engagement is completed within six months of approval. The most common mistake we see in applications is being too vague about expected outcomes. MBIE is looking for specifics: which business processes will be assessed, what deliverables will be produced, and how the business plans to act on the results.
Applications that articulate a clear "before and after" scenario have a significantly higher approval rate. We help every client with their MBIE application as part of our onboarding process, and to date, every application we have supported has been approved. Want to learn how AI can help your business?
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According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in New Zealand. Participants will be invited from late January and are likely existing Regional Business Partner Network customers. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows co-funding of up to 50%, capped at NZ$15,000. Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
AI Advisory Pilot is funded by New Zealand Government (Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) / New Zealand Institute for Advanced Technology). Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Start from the official opportunity page linked in this listing — it carries the sponsor's submission instructions.
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