Community AI programme expands reach across South Island
Saturday, 11 July 2026
A Nelson community AI initiative is expanding its reach into Canterbury, in a move hoped to help more Kiwis adapt to “an AI-centric world”.
The University of Canterbury has signed an agreement with charitable trust, Nelson AI Sandbox (NAIS), committing “to explore collaboration on AI capability, education and responsible adoption in the wider region”.
Community investment fund Rāta Foundation on Wednesday announced $214,000 to help support the expansion and the NAIS programme across Nelson/Tasman.
NAIS co-founder Richard Brudvik-Lindner said the development showed the success of its grassroots model, while opening up education and economic opportunities in both regions.
Since NAIS launched two years ago, over 25,000 people have accessed its free services - including a drop-in centre in central Nelson where people can try out AI tools.
Not-for-profit organisations were among those who said attending NAIS workshops and public addresses helped them streamline their services.
Other community members who met through NAIS - largely run by volunteers - had created local AI business solutions.
Brudvik-Lindner said the recently-signed memorandum of understanding with the University of Canterbury (UC) business school was wide-ranging, with exact details yet to be worked out.
But NAIS hoped to have a physical presence in Christchurch, doing “some of the kinds of activities” there that it was already doing - and more.
The agreement was expected to help boost AI training and employment, as well as exploring potential business activities, Brudvik-Lindner said.
“We will be trying to create pathways for students at the university to work with the Sandbox, and in turn work with perhaps businesses or other organisations or entities within Nelson and also Christchurch.”
UC had a satellite facility at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology, and the collaboration opened up greater study and work opportunities in Nelson.
The prospect of UC and NAIS being able to apply for contestable funding together boosted local “AI ecosystem” development where businesses, employees, and people with an interest in AI came together to “drive prosperity and equity in communities”.
Executive dean of University of Canterbury’s business school, Paul Ballentine, said UC and NAIS shared “a values-based commitment to impact“.
The five-year memorandum of understanding set out shared intentions and potential areas of co-operation.
“It suggests things like joint research opportunities, student and staff involvement in AI-related projects, exploring AI-related learning pathways such as short courses and workshops.”
A student project was already running in partnership with NAIS, and UC was co-developing some short-course offerings together.
The agreement suggested quarterly meetings between the two organisations to identify opportunities of mutual benefit.
Brudvik-Lindner said people in many regions had approached him saying they would like to start similar initiatives to NAIS.
“It could be a model that could be proliferated throughout the country to the advantage of the whole country.
“It’s not just how you adopt AI, but how are we going to adapt to an AI-centric world.”
Rātā Foundation said AI was rapidly changing how communities worked, and the fund wanted to ensure community organisations were not left behind.
“Nelson AI Sandbox walks alongside the community to build confidence, remove barriers and make AI accessible in responsible and practical ways,” head of community investment Kate Sclater said.
Supporting it to expand into Canterbury would help “more people build capability and resilience.”