Deloitte Report in Wellington: Mayor Says Large Sections Were Created Using AI

The Deloitte report in Wellington has faced further criticism after Mayor Andrew Little said that “large sections” of the document were written using artificial intelligence. The claim was made on September 2 in an interview with Newstalk ZB and concerns the Future Fit Pōneke document on Wellington City Council staffing levels.

The city paid approximately 435,000 New Zealand dollars for the report. The document originally stated that the city council had 330 surplus positions. Council materials cited later, however, challenged its underlying assumptions. According to those materials, the report relied, among other things, on outdated data, and some positions were counted twice.

The Deloitte Report in Wellington and the Mayor’s Claim

In the radio interview, Little said that a significant part of the report was created with the help of AI. He also criticized the use of three-year-old data. This is a publicly recorded statement by the mayor, not an independent technical review of the document’s content or Deloitte’s working procedures.

It has therefore not been established which specific passages were created by generative AI, what share of the report it involved, or which tool the firm used. It is likewise unconfirmed that the use of AI caused the identified factual or methodological errors.

According to a reported statement, Deloitte uses AI-enabled tools where appropriate. At the same time, it says the report’s analyses and conclusions underwent human approval. This position does not directly specify the extent of AI use in the engagement for Wellington City Council.

Errors Concern Both Data and Position Counts

The dispute is not limited to the possible role of artificial intelligence. The Future Fit Pōneke report had already been challenged before Little’s statement over the assumptions it used. According to materials cited later from the council, some data was outdated and jobs were double-counted in the totals.

The original estimate of 330 surplus positions is an important part of the case in light of these objections. The available information does not, however, show a complete independent assessment of the report’s methodology or a final conclusion about which errors Deloitte acknowledged and to what extent they affected the results.

What Could Happen Next

According to the available information, Wellington City Council has not yet received confirmed reimbursement or another remedy from Deloitte. It remains an open question whether the city will pursue contractual or financial action against the consulting firm.

For further clarification, it will be important to see whether Deloitte publishes the rules and scope of AI use in this engagement. The council could also release the complete supporting materials, methodology, and any independent assessment of the report. Only such information would make it possible to separate the question of AI use from the already reported problems with data and calculations.

The case concerns a report worth approximately 435,000 New Zealand dollars and a document whose assumptions were later challenged over data and methodological errors. The mayor’s publicly stated allegation therefore increases the importance of a transparent explanation of the methodology, control steps, and use of artificial intelligence-supported tools in preparing the report.

Verified and updated: 09/02/2026 12:02