Everyone is talking about AI. But data comes first.
Right now, across Aotearoa, community organisations are already making decisions about data – often without the governance, clarity, or support they need. This July and August, Community Governance Aotearoa is asking our community to help us understand what’s really happening, as boards and leaders navigate data and the growing use of AI tools and platforms.
I’m excited by this work because it brings together national, international, and practical experience that is focused on developing a Data Governance Code for grassroots and flax-roots organisations
Across all of this mahi, one thing is becoming very clear to me: data is about people.
I’m seeing a lot of businesses, consultants, agencies and specialists upselling, on-selling many AI products and services, that’s fine, and great, we can do with using artificial intelligence (AI) software and tools to improve and advance our mahi. However, AI does not rule us or run us – it is a tool, and like every tool or platform, it depends on the data that its given, and it’s generated by us, people.
Essentially, data comes before AI.
Community organisations – our social services, volunteer boards, advisory committees, kaupapa Māori organisations, sports clubs, environmental groups, local trusts, and national charities – already produce, hold, share, and interpret data every day. Every dashboard update, privacy policy, funder report, whānau story, volunteer record, CRM system, survey response, or AI-generated summary is part of a much bigger governance picture
AI can help us organise information, find patterns and make decisions. But it does not carry our values for us, it does not know our whakapapa, our relationships, or what care looks like in our communities. That is our role.
These are not just technical choices. They are governance decisions at their best — shaping how we govern data through trust and accountability.
So we are starting by holding the conversation. But, before we rush to write policies or adopt every new AI tool, we need to define the conversation first. Our aim is simple: a national conversation about what governing data means for our sector – followed by a practical code to support organisations to govern data with confidence and care.
Communities should decide how community knowledge is accessed, treated, and applied. It’s a critical part of the conversation we must be in.
So, we’re starting with a focused section as part of our annual sector-wide survey – a first step for organisations to share what’s happening on the ground.
Please complete the survey.
The survey insights will shape our national online conversation series to follow in September, October and November 2026 on ‘Data Governance for Community Organisations’. From there, in 2027, we will move into co-design workshops to develop a practical, community-led Data Governance Code for Aotearoa’s Community and Voluntary sector.
Community by community, this is where good data governance starts. Make sure you’re part of the conversation
