The government of New Zealand established a digital council that is mandated to advise the government on how to promote the societal benefits of digital and data-driven technologies to increase equality and inclusivity, wellbeing and community resilience. It will operate as an independent group to liaise between the government, the technology industry, and communities across New Zealand. The main areas of focus of the council are digital inclusion, nurturing digital trust and confidence, balancing data use and accessibility with safeguarding and privacy, government service innovation and digital development, enhancing the positive use of data to realise social benefit, the role of technology in fostering greater social inclusion and community resilience, and the impact of specific technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithms, on aspects of New Zealand society. "We want to understand the impact of technological change from a uniquely New Zealand perspective. The Digital Council will also help identify gaps in accessing and using technology, how it can benefit societies and our economy, assist our role in the Pacific, and help overcome our distance from major trading markets," highlighted the Minister for Government Digital Services Kris Faafoi.