AI consultants in New Zealand.

An AI consultant helps an organisation decide where AI is worth using, whether to buy or build, and what it will cost to run. In New Zealand, AI advice comes from sole practitioners, specialist firms and the AI teams inside large professional services firms. This guide compares what eleven advisers publish about themselves, then shows how to judge the advice. If you already know what to build, our guide to AI development companies in New Zealand is the better list.

New Zealand AI consultants compared

“Published proof” means named clients, case studies or evaluations the adviser publishes itself. Prices are as listed on 20 October 2026.

Provider profiles

Levy Street

Levy Street is a Wellington AI engineering and advisory company. Our AI consulting is run by an engineer who builds production systems and ends with a costed first project, backed by prototypes tested on your data. We also run executive AI workshops that end in a written decision record, and an AI readiness assessment scored across six areas. We publish no prices.

AI Innovisory

AI Innovisory is an Auckland AI consultancy led by Peter Mangin, offering advisory, workshops and automation. It lists half-day workshops at typically $4,000 to $6,000 and a fractional chief AI officer from $4k to $8k a month.

AI New Zealand

AI New Zealand, founded in 2017 by Justin Flitter, is an Auckland-led training and advisory company. Its Executive AI Briefing runs three hours for up to 15 senior leaders at $5,500 plus GST and travel, followed by a report on use cases.

AIpex

AIpex is an Auckland AI training and workflow automation company for professional services firms of 10 to 100 staff. Its pricing page lists a 90-minute Executive AI Briefing at NZ$1,250 and a two-week readiness assessment at NZ$4,500, both plus GST.

Arcanum AI

Arcanum AI is a Wellington AI company founded in 2016 whose main product is Numa, an AI platform for firms of 20 to 200 staff. Its AI Adoption Executive Workshop is a half-day session for business leaders and board members.

Curiosity

Curiosity is the Wānaka practice of Nadia Ellis, offering AI strategy, coaching and workshops for leaders and teams across New Zealand. It focuses on team capability and says it does not build risky “black box” custom software.

Deloitte New Zealand

Deloitte New Zealand’s AI Institute works with businesses, government and leaders on AI strategy, governance, workforce, change management and implementation. It describes AI work with Tower, NZHL and Health New Zealand.

Implement AI

Implement AI is an Auckland consultancy for firms of 10 to 500 staff. Its pricing page lists a two-week readiness assessment at $3,500 to $5,000, implementation at $12,000 to $30,000 and a full-day Executive AI Masterclass at $4,000 to $7,000.

Matrix AI Consulting

Matrix AI Consulting, founded by Glen Maguire, is an independent AI consultancy with addresses in Auckland and Wellington, working in New Zealand and Australia. It offers strategy, governance and Copilot workshops, and says it is not tied to any software vendor.

Plain Logic

Plain Logic is a New Zealand practice led by Jasper Irvine, who spent nine years at Xero. Its Gameplan maps a service business, ranks AI opportunities and builds the first tool in three to six weeks at a fixed price. It discloses an Autohive referral arrangement and passes the commission to clients.

PwC New Zealand

PwC New Zealand has offices in five regions, and its AI page names Scott McLiver as Chief AI Officer. It covers AI strategy, testing the highest-return opportunities, and governance for security and risk.

How to judge the quality of AI advice

Good AI advice is specific enough to be proved wrong. It names a workflow, a cost and a number, and the risky step has been tested on your data before you pay for a build. Hold every adviser to this, us included, and ask us the same questions.

The government AI Advisory Pilot

The AI Advisory Pilot is a government programme, delivered through the Regional Business Partner Network (RBPN), that co-funds expert help for small businesses adopting AI. MBIE expanded it in May 2026 to up to 150 businesses, and business.govt.nz says it runs until 30 June 2027.

• Who qualifies. Businesses with 50 or fewer full-time equivalent staff, GST registration and an NZBN, registered with the RBPN, willing to share costs, with a problem AI could help with. Meeting the criteria does not guarantee a place.
• What it pays. Up to 50% of eligible costs: up to $2,500 for a roadmap and up to $12,500 for implementation, excluding GST. A roadmap does not guarantee implementation funding.
• What it excludes. AI products to sell, general software, work already under way, stand-alone AI training and normal operating costs.

1. Register with the RBPN. A growth advisor discusses your business and whether the pilot fits.
2. Complete an AI readiness assessment. Describe your business, technology and problem.
3. Work with an approved provider. If accepted, agree the roadmap’s scope and cost with an approved provider.
4. Ask about implementation funding. Discuss the next stage with your growth advisor.

Some advisers say their services qualify. Only approved providers can be used, so confirm with your growth advisor before signing.

Where AI advice goes wrong

• A strategy deck with no first project. If the output is slides without a costed next step, you paid for a briefing.
• Use cases ranked on enthusiasm. Scores without volumes, hours or error rates reflect who spoke loudest.
• Advice that ignores your systems. A plan built on a platform you do not run will not survive contact with Xero or Microsoft 365.
• Feasibility assumed, not tested. Ask who will prototype the riskiest step, and on what data, before you approve a build.
• Undisclosed incentives. Resale margins and referral fees are common; you should know about them before you rely on a recommendation.

Other New Zealand points good advice covers

• Privacy. Since 1 May 2026, IPP 3A under the Privacy Act 2020 requires reasonable steps to tell people when you collect their information from someone else.
• Responsible use. MBIE’s Responsible AI Guidance for Businesses is voluntary and covers businesses of every size.
• Public sector. Agencies are encouraged to align with the Public Service AI Framework, which is advisory rather than binding.
• GST. Some published prices exclude GST and some do not say; compare like with like.

Written by the Levy Street team in Wellington. Last updated 19 October 2026.