Choosing an AI company in New Zealand
Nine questions to ask any AI provider before you give it your customers, your inbox or your card.
1. Who is the company, and where is it registered?
Look for a legal name and a business number. A New Zealand company has an NZBN you can search on the NZBN register. NOVA’s is 9429052611193.
2. Where is my data kept?
The answer should name a country and the providers involved. “The cloud” is not an answer. JENA’s database and online service run in Singapore, and its privacy policy lists every provider.
3. Is my data used to train AI?
Ask whether your documents, emails or chats are used to improve the provider’s models, and whether you can opt out.
4. What can the AI do without asking me?
This matters most for tools that act: send email, post, book or pay. In JENA, anything that sends, posts or pays waits for your approval, and every action is logged.
5. What does it cost in NZ dollars, and can the bill grow?
Check the currency, what counts as usage, and what happens at the limit. Some tools charge more as you use more. JENA’s plans are in NZ dollars and pause at the monthly allowance.
6. Can I try it on real work without a card?
A trial on this week’s work tells you more than any demo. JENA has 7 days with Team features; Mini NOVA has 7 days or 100 questions. Neither needs a card.
7. How does it handle the Privacy Act 2020?
The provider should explain what personal information it collects and your rights under New Zealand law. Our Privacy Act checklist for AI tools covers your side of it.
8. How do I get my data out and leave?
Ask how to export your data and close your account. JENA lets you download all your data.
9. Who answers when something goes wrong?
Send a question before you sign up and see how long the reply takes, and who writes it.
A quick scorecard
| Question | A good answer |
|---|---|
| Registered company | Legal name and business number you can look up |
| Data location | A named country and a list of providers |
| Training | A clear yes or no, in writing |
| Acting alone | Approval before anything is sent, posted or paid |
| Price | In your currency, with a known limit |
| Trial | Real work, no card |
| Privacy Act | A policy that names New Zealand law |
| Leaving | Export and account deletion |
| Support | A person who answers |
We answer each of these for NOVA on Why choose NOVA.
Questions
Are there AI companies based in New Zealand?
Yes. NOVA Enterprise Limited is a New Zealand AI company that makes JENA, a team of AI employees for small businesses, and Mini NOVA, an AI screen assistant. Many New Zealand agencies and consultancies also build AI for clients.
Does it matter if my AI provider is overseas?
The Privacy Act 2020 applies to your business either way. What matters is that you know where personal information goes, who holds it and how it is protected.
What should an AI provider put in writing?
Where data is kept, whether it is used for training, what the AI can do without approval, the price and its limits, and how to export your data and leave.
See NOVA’s answers to all nine.
Every answer, with a link you can check.