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Digital privilege is real: how Aotearoa must harness AI and inclusion for all

  • Writer: Pamela Minnoch
    Pamela Minnoch
  • Jun 11
  • 2 min read

Let's not kid ourselves. Aotearoa is a highly connected country on paper. But scratch beneath the surface and you'll find digital privilege is unevenly spread. If you're reading this, chances are you already benefit from a world where fast internet, smart devices, and digital literacy are part of daily life. Now ask yourself: what about the people who aren't online?


Connectivity isn't equality

While 95% of us are technically online, that statistic hides the real story. Many families still struggle with the cost of broadband. Entire communities, especially in rural areas, remain on the wrong side of the digital divide. This isn't just inconvenient, it's a barrier to education, jobs and basic services.


If we fail to act, we're reinforcing a two-speed society. One where digital haves surge ahead, and have-nots are left further behind.


The gender gap won't close on its own

We already know this. Women are still locked out of the tech revolution. In Aotearoa, we make up less than 30% of the tech workforce. This underrepresentation isn't just about fairness, it has real world consequences. Tech designed without women at the table can miss, ignore or even harm our interests.


That's why groups like GirlBoss New Zealand aren't just inspiring, they're essential. They remind us that without intentional effort, the digital economy will remain a boys' club.


AI could widen the gap or close it

AI is transforming everything from health to education, but here's the truth: it's not built for everyone. Biases baked into training data can reinforce inequalities unless we take deliberate action to prevent it.


Women, Māori and Pasifika communities are often left out of AI development. That's not just a technical issue; it's failure of imagination and inclusion. If we're not represented in the systems shaping the future, then that future isn't really ours.


What we do now matters

Digital inclusion doesn't happen by accident. It requires intention, investment, policy, and people who care enough to challenge the status quo.

  • Stop assuming access equals ability: Having an internet connection doesn't mean someone can use it confidently or safely.

  • Call out exclusivity: If your tech team, policy group, or classroom isn't diverse, fix it.

  • Fund local solutions: Support organisations already doing the work. Libraries, training centres, and community leaders are building bridges where the government and private sector lag.

  • Insist on ethical AI: Push for transparent, inclusive AI that works for all, not just those already at the top.


This is on all of us

The digital divide is not just a policy issue, it's personal. Every time we ignore it, we deepen it.


Every time we choose inclusion, we help close it.


Aotearoa can lead the world in digital fairness. But that starts with recognising the imbalance, and refusing to accept it.


What will you do today to make sure Aotearoa's digital future includes everyone, not just those already at the table?

 
 
 

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