In Kipping v Electrical Workers Registration Board [2025] NZCA 416, the applicant (a litigant in person) sought leave to bring a second appeal and to adduce further evidence. Among other things, the Court noted at [14]:

“Furthermore, [K] refers to an answer from [name of AI tool] to the question ‘[d]oes an isolator switch isolate a circuit?’, which he says supports his position. However, that takes [K] no further, as a submission relaying an answer given by artificial intelligence, without more, is not reliable evidence.”

For this and several other reasons, the applications were declined.

This seems to be the fourth time that a court or tribunal has noted the use of AI in New Zealand legal proceedings. For earlier instances (all involving litigants in person), see:

• Wikeley v Kea Investments Ltd [2024] NZCA 609, [2024] 3 NZLR 901 at [199] n 187.
• LMN v STC (No 2) [2025] NZEmpC 46 at [8].
• DK (Skilled Migrant) v Chief Executive of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment [2025] NZIPT 207134 at [28]–[29].