# AI election messages growing in New Zealand

> AI-generated fear messages targeting voters in New Zealand election campaign.
- Title: AI election messages growing in New Zealand · RNZ | Shortify
- Summary: AI-generated fear messages targeting voters in New Zealand election campaign. New Zealand's AI-generated fear-based election messages are gaining traction…
- Keywords: ai-generated, election 2026, new zealand, taxpayers union, electoral commission, chris hipkins, university of canterbury, ekant veer, politics, news, election, messages
- Source: RNZ — https://rnz.co.nz/news/politics_election-2026/2047303/ai-fear-based-election-messages-finding-an-audience
- Author: RNZ | Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa
- Published: 2026-10-20T19:21:07+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ai-generated, election 2026, new zealand, taxpayers union, electoral commission, chris hipkins, university of canterbury, ekant veer, politics, news
## AI fear messages in election
AI-generated campaign material is finding an audience in this year's election campaign.
## University of Canterbury professor
Ekant Veer says ai messages work for some audiences but push others away.
## Taxpayers Union ad example
Taxpayers Union used ai to create footage of chris hipkins stealing wallets.
## Age-based audience reaction
people under 30 reject ai images as inauthentic; older viewers accept content at face value.
## Electoral Commission use
Electoral Commission created six ai-labeled social media images for voter engagement.
## Key takeaway

New Zealand's AI-generated fear-based election messages are gaining traction with older voters but being rejected by younger audiences.