What does this event cover
As councils develop their long-term plans, there is an opportunity to consider how AI could support their organisations and communities in the years ahead.
Many organisations understand AI’s potential but are finding it difficult to scale adoption and realise the benefits because it is not yet treated as a strategic investment. The long-term plan process can help close that gap.
This practical session grounded in local government experience will help you consider:
- where your organisation currently sits in its AI maturity and what it could take to move forward
- different investment options, from tools that improve individual productivity through to transforming end-to-end processes
- the level of AI investment you could consider through your long-term plan
- how to identify and articulate the benefits of AI investment as part of your long-term plan story
- practical ways AI could support long-term plan development and community consultation.
You’ll leave with a clearer picture of what strategic AI investment could look like for your organisation, a framework for considering your options, and practical ideas you can apply to your long-term plan process.
You’ll also have the option of a complimentary follow-up conversation to explore how these ideas could be applied in your organisation.
Who should attend?
This webinar will be particularly useful for senior leaders in local authorities, finance staff, corporate planners, strategy and policy staff, governance and democracy advisors, and communications and engagement practitioners involved in preparing the long-term plan.
Programme overview
With support from
Your facilitators and guest speakers
Jarred Griffiths
Jarred Griffiths is Practive Lead – AI Transformation at MartinJenkins and an experienced leader and advisor across strategy, policy, and communications. He has worked at all levels of government on complex political and operational issues, with a focus on building public trust and supporting organisations to navigate change.
In his previous role as Director of Strategy and Engagement at Hutt City Council, Jarred led one of New Zealand’s most successful AI adoption programmes. This included scaling tools across the organisation and embedding new ways of working that delivered practical value.
Jarred is known for his calm, clear‑headed approach and his ability to provide practical advice that organisations can apply. He focuses on what it takes to adopt AI effectively in the public sector, recognising this as a shift in how people work and how organisations function over time.
Nick Carlaw
Nick has deep expertise in developing funding and investment cases for major initiatives, including government funding and charges or levies on third parties. His work includes Queenstown Lakes District Council’s infrastructure funding and the Canterbury Museum redevelopment. He is well placed to explain how AI investment can be built, costed and presented defensibly within a long-term plan.
Philip Shackleton
Philip joined Taituarā in September 2025, as Principal Advisor, Sector Readiness.
He brings over 20 years of experience, and relationships in local government and the public sector.
His career includes 10 years in senior roles with councils and more recently 7 years as Principal Policy Advisor with Local Government New Zealand. He has most recently worked in leadership roles at Waka Kotahi and at EECA where he was Development Lead in the Standards and Regulations Team. Philip’s expertise includes policy development, regulatory analysis, stakeholder management, and project and programme delivery.
In his role as Principal Advisor, Sector Readiness, Philip is committed to supporting the Sector Readiness Team develop tools and resources that help the sector prepare for and successfully implement new legislation and policies.
