TUANZ Calls For "Security By Design" And Stronger System Accountability

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The Tech Users Association of New Zealand (TUANZ) is urging a shift to a more proactive and enforceable approach to cyber security, warning that current settings place too much responsibility on individuals and small businesses to manage increasingly complex digital risks.

As part of its 2026 policy programme, TUANZ today released its Trust and Safety position paper, alongside a discussion paper on social media age assurance. Together, they set out a clear direction: New Zealand must move beyond a "user beware" mindset and embed "security by design" across digital systems.

"New Zealand has made real progress in strengthening its cyber defences,” says Paul Littlefair, Chair of TUANZ. "Better coordination through the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and initiatives like Malware Free Networks are delivering results. But the threat environment is evolving quickly, and our response needs to keep pace.”

Recent data highlights both progress and pressure:

With New Zealanders losing an estimated $200 million annually to scams, TUANZ warns that the rapid advancement of generative AI is amplifying risks. Sophisticated, highly personalised attacks are becoming easier to execute, and harder for individuals to identify.

This is creating a growing equity gap, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), many of whom lack the capability and resources to keep up. A rising proportion of smaller organisations now report their cyber resilience as insufficient.

“Expecting individuals and small businesses to carry the burden of managing these risks is no longer tenable,” Littlefair says. “We need to design systems that are secure by default, not secure only for those with the time, expertise or resources to protect themselves.”

TUANZ’s position is clear: improving digital trust requires a shift in where responsibility sits, from users to the systems and platforms they rely on.

To support this, TUANZ is calling for four priority actions:

Alongside the Trust and Safety paper, TUANZ has released a discussion paper, Navigating the Social Media Age-Gating Debate, to help inform policy development in a fast-moving and highly contested area.

Rather than advocating a single solution, the paper sets out key principles to guide decision-making, including proportionality, practicality, privacy and equity. It also highlights the trade-offs inherent in age assurance approaches and the importance of grounding policy in evidence.

“This is a complex issue with no simple answers,” Littlefair says. “What matters is that we have a clear, informed national conversation - and that we don't default to solutions that shift responsibility back onto families without addressing system-level risks.”

TUANZ emphasises that strengthening trust and safety is not only a defensive priority, but a critical enabler of growth.

“Trust is fundamental to digital adoption,” says Littlefair. “If people don't feel safe online, they will not fully engage with new technologies, including AI. Getting this right supports innovation, productivity, and the long-term competitiveness of our digital economy.”

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