{
  "dataset": "New Zealand AI Companies & Ecosystem — Verified Directory",
  "publisher": "Digital.nz Intelligence",
  "updated": "2026-08-24",
  "version": "1.1",
  "scope": "A selective, evidence-led directory of New Zealand-founded or New Zealand-headquartered product companies where AI is either the core product or a material part of a domain platform. It is not a census, ranking, endorsement or investment recommendation. AI consultancies and implementation-only service firms are outside this version's scope.",
  "summary": {
    "verified_company_records": 17,
    "classification_groups": 3,
    "principal_nz_centres_represented": 4
  },
  "classification": {
    "AI-native": "AI or machine learning is the central product, model or technical moat.",
    "AI-enabled domain platform": "AI is a material capability inside a broader industry product or operating system.",
    "Applied AI and robotics": "AI, autonomy, sensing or computer vision is embodied in physical systems or specialist scientific workflows."
  },
  "records": [
    {"company":"Thematic","classification":"AI-native","origin_or_hq":"New Zealand-founded; New Zealand and US team","nz_centre":"Auckland / global","domain":"Customer intelligence","product":"AI analysis of surveys, tickets, calls, reviews and social feedback","stage_signal":"Operating globally; launched in 2017","verification":"Company source","source":"https://getthematic.com/about"},
    {"company":"Arcanum AI / Numa","classification":"AI-native","origin_or_hq":"Wellington, New Zealand","nz_centre":"Wellington","domain":"SMB productivity and workflow automation","product":"Private AI tools and agents connected to company knowledge and business systems","stage_signal":"Operating in New Zealand and Australia","verification":"Company source","source":"https://www.arcanum.ai/"},
    {"company":"Partly","classification":"AI-native","origin_or_hq":"Christchurch, New Zealand","nz_centre":"Christchurch","domain":"Automotive repair and parts","product":"Interpreter foundation model and infrastructure for repair estimates, parts selection and order validation","stage_signal":"Commercial platform; founded in 2020","verification":"Company source","source":"https://www.partly.com/"},
    {"company":"PredictHQ","classification":"AI-native","origin_or_hq":"New Zealand-founded; Auckland and San Francisco teams","nz_centre":"Auckland / global","domain":"Demand intelligence","product":"Real-world event context, machine-learning features and event-aware demand forecasts","stage_signal":"Global API platform serving enterprise forecasting and AI workflows","verification":"Company source","source":"https://www.predicthq.com/our-story"},
    {"company":"UneeQ","classification":"AI-native","origin_or_hq":"New Zealand-founded; global operations","nz_centre":"Auckland-founded / global","domain":"Digital humans and immersive training","product":"Digital Human Operating System for conversational customer and employee experiences","stage_signal":"Operating for more than a decade with teams across five regions","verification":"Company source","source":"https://www.digitalhumans.com/about"},
    {"company":"MACSO","classification":"AI-native","origin_or_hq":"Auckland, New Zealand; US presence","nz_centre":"Auckland","domain":"Edge AI and sensor intelligence","product":"Machine-learning models, multimodal sensor fusion and hardware-specific neural networks","stage_signal":"Commercial AI engineering and industry solutions","verification":"Company source","source":"https://www.macso.ai/"},
    {"company":"Kara Technologies","classification":"AI-native","origin_or_hq":"New Zealand-founded; global accessibility market","nz_centre":"Auckland-founded / global","domain":"Accessible communication","product":"AI translation from English into sign language using digital avatars and human review","stage_signal":"Commercial translation platform; 2026 NZ Hi-Tech Awards finalist","verification":"Company source","source":"https://www.kara.tech/"},
    {"company":"Xtracta","classification":"AI-native","origin_or_hq":"Auckland, New Zealand","nz_centre":"Auckland","domain":"Document intelligence","product":"Learning-based extraction and validation of structured data from complex documents","stage_signal":"Founded in 2010; company states 1,000+ businesses use its engine","verification":"Company source","source":"https://xtracta.com/about-us/"},
    {"company":"Auror","classification":"AI-enabled domain platform","origin_or_hq":"New Zealand-founded; global operations","nz_centre":"Auckland / global","domain":"Retail crime intelligence","product":"Incident intelligence, investigation, risk detection and retailer–law-enforcement collaboration","stage_signal":"Global scale; operating for more than a decade","verification":"Company source","source":"https://www.auror.co/nz"},
    {"company":"Halter","classification":"AI-enabled domain platform","origin_or_hq":"Auckland, New Zealand","nz_centre":"Auckland","domain":"Agriculture","product":"Smart collars, connectivity and farm software for virtual fencing, movement and animal monitoring","stage_signal":"Series E announced March 2026; NZ$377m round and NZ$3.43b valuation stated by company","verification":"Company press release","source":"https://www.halterhq.com/en-nz/news/halter-accelerates-international-expansion-following-seriese-fundraising-round"},
    {"company":"LawVu","classification":"AI-enabled domain platform","origin_or_hq":"Tauranga, New Zealand","nz_centre":"Tauranga","domain":"Legal operations","product":"AI-powered legal operating system for in-house matters, contracts, spend and workflows","stage_signal":"Global commercial platform","verification":"Company source","source":"https://lawvu.com/about-us/"},
    {"company":"Lumin","classification":"AI-enabled domain platform","origin_or_hq":"Christchurch, New Zealand","nz_centre":"Christchurch","domain":"Documents and PDF workflows","product":"Cloud PDF editing, e-signature and AI-assisted document features","stage_signal":"100m-user milestone reported January 2025","verification":"Independent reporting","source":"https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/540403/kiwi-software-firm-lumin-hits-100-million-user-milestone"},
    {"company":"Kami","classification":"AI-enabled domain platform","origin_or_hq":"Developed in Auckland; New Zealand and US operations","nz_centre":"Auckland / global","domain":"Education technology","product":"Interactive learning platform with AI assessment, feedback, explanation and accessibility tools","stage_signal":"Company states a global community of more than 50m teachers and students","verification":"Company source","source":"https://www.kamiapp.com/about-us/"},
    {"company":"VXT","classification":"AI-enabled domain platform","origin_or_hq":"Christchurch, New Zealand","nz_centre":"Christchurch","domain":"Legal and professional communications","product":"Integrated phone and meeting system with AI transcription, summaries and automated file notes","stage_signal":"Founded in 2018; company states 10,000+ users across 1,600+ firms","verification":"Company source","source":"https://www.vxt.ai/post/xero-and-vxt-integration-launch"},
    {"company":"Robotics Plus","classification":"Applied AI and robotics","origin_or_hq":"Tauranga, New Zealand","nz_centre":"Tauranga","domain":"Agricultural robotics","product":"Autonomous vehicles, sensing, analytics and AI for specialty-crop operations","stage_signal":"Acquired by Yamaha Motor; remains based in New Zealand","verification":"Company source","source":"https://www.roboticsplus.co.nz/about/our-story"},
    {"company":"Formus Labs","classification":"Applied AI and robotics","origin_or_hq":"Auckland, New Zealand","nz_centre":"Auckland","domain":"Orthopaedic planning","product":"AI-automated 3D pre-operative planning combining medical imaging and biomechanics","stage_signal":"FDA 510(k) clearance announced May 2026; Japan distribution agreement announced 2025","verification":"Company source","source":"https://www.formus.com/news/formus-labs-hip-platform-receives-fda-clearance"},
    {"company":"Pyper Vision","classification":"Applied AI and robotics","origin_or_hq":"Christchurch, New Zealand","nz_centre":"Christchurch","domain":"Aviation and infrastructure weather","product":"Machine-learning FogCasting using real-time data and predictive analytics","stage_signal":"Commercial forecasting partnerships stated with Air New Zealand, London City Airport and Hamilton Airport","verification":"Company source","source":"https://pypervision.com/ourtechnology"}
  ],
  "ecosystem_infrastructure": [
    {"name":"AI Forum New Zealand","role":"Industry, academic, government and civil-society network","signal":"More than 280 members","source":"https://aiforum.org.nz/about/"},
    {"name":"NZIAT AI investment","role":"Research capability and commercialisation","signal":"Up to NZ$70m over seven years","source":"https://www.mbie.govt.nz/about/news/new-zealand-institute-for-advanced-technology-launches-major-ai-investment"},
    {"name":"eResearch Infrastructure Platform","role":"High-performance computing, storage, networks and research tools","signal":"NZ$69.65m over five years from July 2025","source":"https://www.mbie.govt.nz/science-and-technology/science-and-innovation/funding-information-and-opportunities/investment-funds/strategic-science-investment-fund/funded-infrastructure/eresearch-infrastructure-platform"}
  ]
}