Please support our efforts to provide sovereign AI infrastructure by completing this form​. We will present the completed forms to the Ministers of Finance, Technology, Māori Development, and the DPMC.

Your response information will only be used for the purpose of sending these letters of support, and will not be used for any other purpose.

Letter of Support

SUBJECT: Statement of Support for Sovereign AI Infrastructure

To the Ministers of Finance, Technology, Māori Development, and the DPMC

I am writing to formally endorse the proposal for the Sovereign AI for Aotearoa New Zealand proposal by Catalyst IT, and to urge the Government to recognise Sovereign AI and Cloud infrastructure as a critical lifeline utility for Aotearoa New Zealand.

As we stand at a digital crossroads, relying solely on foreign large technology companies creates a dependency that risks our economic independence and national resilience. We need a "Third Way"—a national asset that is owned by us, governed by our laws, and aligned with our values.

I specifically support this proposal for the following reasons: (These will be marked based on your support expressed below).

Digital Sovereignty & Security: In an era of geopolitical uncertainty, our most sensitive data—from health records to economic IP—must be protected by New Zealand law, less exposed to foreign jurisdictions (such as the US CLOUD Act). A sovereign cloud helps ensure that our critical infrastructure remains resilient and under our control.

Economic Independence: Building Assets, Not "Vouchers": I reject the "Hyperscaler Voucher" model that sends New Zealand’s capital offshore, build no NZ-owned assets, and low long-term returns. I support the creation of a self-funding national asset. By acting as an anchor tenant, the Crown can catalyse private investment, turning a potential cost centre into a commercially sustainable platform that compounds value for the NZ economy.

Upholding Te Tiriti & Māori Data Sovereignty: I support the principles of Māori AI Governance as defined by Te Kahui Raraunga. This platform offers a unique partnership that honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi, providing the necessary technical lineage and governance to protect jurisdictional control and governance over data, a capability foreign platforms and resellers cannot guarantee.

Accelerating Research & Innovation: Our researchers need a "lab to launchpad" pathway. Current high performance compute options for academics is valuable but often queue-based and non-commercial. We need a production-grade environment that allows innovators to move seamlessly from research to commercialisation without having to migrate to foreign platforms to scale.

Expressing Interest: Beyond general support, I am expressing my organisation's interest in using the proposed platform. Assuming commercial details (such as pricing, service levels, and terms) are viable and competitive, I see clear value in this capability for our research and/or operations and would prioritise using a local, sovereign provider that aligns with our data governance and innovation goals.

The proposal by Catalyst presents a viable, de-risked path to achieving these goals. I urge the Government to consider and support this strategic move to secure Aotearoa’s digital independence and critical infrastructure for generations to come.

My Support