{"id":357055,"date":"2026-03-31T16:19:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T16:19:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/357055\/"},"modified":"2026-03-31T16:19:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T16:19:11","slug":"waikato-canterbury-team-pitches-to-transform-new-zealands-primary-industries-with-ai-university-of-waikato","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/357055\/","title":{"rendered":"Waikato-Canterbury team pitches to transform New Zealand\u2019s primary industries with AI :: University of Waikato"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Proposal Director and University of Waikato Professor Geoffrey Holmes speaks to a group of industry leaders and researchers during a two-day workshop in Wellington this month. Photo credit: Mel Waite Photography<\/p>\n

Two universities have teamed up to lead a new wave of innovation that could transform outdoor work and help drive New Zealand\u2019s economy using artificial intelligence-powered systems.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The University of Waikato and Te Whare W\u0101nanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC) were shortlisted in late 2025 to develop a proposal for a $70 million NZIAT-funded national AI research platform. It is aimed at accelerating the translation of AI research into real-world applications, lifting productivity and capability across key sectors, and supporting the growth of globally competitive, high-value industries in New Zealand.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The universities\u2019 proposal \u2013 \u2018Outdoor AI\u2019 \u2013 focuses on developing both physical and digital AI systems\u00a0designed to\u00a0operate\u00a0in complex, real-world environments with\u00a0initial\u00a0applications across agriculture, horticulture,\u00a0aquaculture\u00a0and other primary sectors, along with the potential to deliver cross-sector impact.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Proposal director and University of Waikato\u00a0Professor Geoffrey Holmes<\/a>\u00a0says\u00a0New Zealand needs outdoor\u00a0AI systems designed specifically for the realities of New Zealand\u2019s\u00a0complex, real-world environments \u2013 positioning the country to\u00a0leverage\u00a0its unique strengths and lead globally in this space.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

He says this advantage is already evident in New Zealand\u2019s primary sectors.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Josh Barnett of 29 Threads discussing the proposal with University of Canterbury Professor Vik Naidoo. Photo credit: Mel Waite Photography<\/p>\n

\u201cNew Zealand offers a unique environment to develop and test new technologies in real-world agricultural settings. Our farms and orchards operate in challenging environments, which has spurred many innovations in the sector,\u201d Professor Holmes says.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The growing digitisation of farms creates opportunities to improve productivity through data-driven decision making. By combining sensors, software, and robotics, growers can transform their businesses.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Professor Holmes says the broad goal is to\u00a0establish\u00a0a centre of gravity in outdoor AI in New Zealand, one that is\u00a0recognised\u00a0around the world for leading innovation and technology development.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAs owners of significant whenua and natural resources, we have a strong interest in how technologies like AI are developed and applied,\u201d says Professor Te Maire Tau, Pou\u00a0Whakarae,\u00a0Ng\u0101i\u00a0Tahu Research Centre, University of Canterbury.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is a clear opportunity to combine engineering, AI and advanced technologies to both protect our environment and enhance primary production \u2013 supporting better long-term decision-making and creating enduring value for future generations.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Brendan O\u2019Connell of AgriTech NZ discusses the proposal with Professor Angus McIntosh of the University of Canterbury. Photo credit: Mel Waite Photography<\/p>\n

Building on this, collaboration with iwi, particularly Ng\u0101i Tahu and Waikato-Tainui, will be central to the Institute. This recognises their significant landholdings, strategic interests in innovation, commitment to intergenerational stewardship, and the importance of m\u0101tauranga M\u0101ori.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Unlocking the next wave of productivity growth in New Zealand will depend on translating AI research into real-world applications. However, deploying AI in complex, outdoor environments\u00a0remains\u00a0a significant challenge. The platform is focused on overcoming this barrier, enabling industry to\u00a0realise\u00a0the full value of AI.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Outdoor AI Research Platform will initially focus on horticulture and agriculture, where New Zealand\u2019s diverse climates and farming systems provide ideal testing conditions.\u00a0<\/p>\n

New Zealand already has a strong track record of technology companies that began by serving outdoor industries, including Halter, Tait Communications, Gallagher Group and Robotics Plus (now part of Yamaha Agriculture). The platform aims to solve industry challenges and unlock new opportunities, enabling existing companies to grow while also supporting the development of new technology ventures.\u00a0<\/p>\n

University of Waikato Deputy Vice Chancellor Research\u00a0Professor Gary Wilson<\/a>\u00a0says the initiative comes at a critical time for the country.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cNew Zealand faces significant economic challenges, and if we want to change the trajectory of our economy we must act now,\u201d Professor Wilson says.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need research that helps improve New Zealand\u2019s global prospects. Often we make isolated and data poor decisions in our core primary industries. Advances in AI offer a major opportunity to transform the decision-making process in the paddock or at the vine to lift the export value proposition significantly.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Muneesh Mundaliar, GM Automation and Operational Technology Fonterra, and Kiri Wallace, Eco-Index and University of Waikato, taking part in panel discussions led by Nicola Peddie, Strategic Partnerships Research Advisor at University or Canterbury. Photo credit: Mel Waite Photography<\/p>\n

More than 65 per cent of New Zealand\u2019s exports come from outdoor and land-based industries, compared with between five and 30 per cent in most developed countries. While AI is rapidly transforming work in offices and factories, it has had far less impact on outdoor industries.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThis platform is grounded in strong industry pull, with research shaped directly by real-world challenges and opportunities identified through our engagement with partners,\u201d UC Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation Professor Lucy Johnston\u00a0says.\u00a0<\/p>\n

By combining this demand-led approach with New Zealand\u2019s strengths in outdoor industries, we have a significant opportunity to unlock new markets, accelerate the commercialisation of AI-enabled solutions, and grow globally competitive export businesses.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are excited about the potential for this platform to position New Zealand as a leader in outdoor AI and to deliver long-term economic value.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The University of Waikato\/University of Canterbury proposal is one of five selected from 108 submissions to progress to the second round of the Government\u2019s AI Research Platform initiative. Results on the research platform are due in late May 2026.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Proposal Director and University of Waikato Professor Geoffrey Holmes speaks to a group of industry leaders and researchers…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":357056,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[111,43,139,69],"class_list":{"0":"post-357055","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-zealand","8":"tag-new-zealand","9":"tag-news","10":"tag-newzealand","11":"tag-nz"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/357055","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=357055"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/357055\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/357056"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=357055"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=357055"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=357055"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}