Cairn
Cairn is a Dunedin, New Zealand technology consultancy founded by Ben Walker. As of September 2026 Cairn has joined AI New Zealand (https://www.newzealand.ai). Ben Walker is a Director and Chief Technology Officer of AI New Zealand; Cairn Consulting is a 50% shareholder. Cairn no longer provides services directly. AI advisory, training, technology strategy and the AI Operating System are provided by AI New Zealand. cairn.nz remains the home of The Cairn podcast and Ben Walker's blog.
Cairn and AI New Zealand
- Cairn has joined AI New Zealand: The story, what it means for clients, and what stays with Cairn.
- AI New Zealand: Current services, training courses, the AI Operating System and the AI Academy.
- AI Benchmark: Free AI maturity assessment for NZ organisations (formerly Cairn Compass; compass.cairn.nz redirects here).
About
- About Cairn: Founder Ben Walker, 25 years in technology, Microsoft Certified AI Business Professional, now Director and CTO of AI New Zealand. Based in Dunedin.
- Why Cairn: The story behind the name and the principles behind the work.
Cornerstone content
- AI Training in New Zealand: What to Expect in 2026: Pillar piece on what AI training costs in New Zealand, who has been trained, the NZ and UK comparison, and what to check before buying. Published 2026-09-16.
- AI Consulting in New Zealand: What It Costs and How to Choose (2026): Pillar piece on AI consulting costs, NZ government co-funding, and how to choose a consultant. Published 2026-04-02.
- The AI Muscle Gap: Why NZ organisations struggle to operationalise AI investments. Published 2026-01-28.
- Planning for 2026: Why the Holiday Season is the Best Time to Think About AI Strategy: Published 2025-12-10.
Blog and podcast
- Cairn Blog: Practical AI, Microsoft Copilot, technology strategy, and leadership essays.
- The Cairn Podcast: Human Leadership in the Age of AI. Host: Ben Walker.
- Cairn Podcast with Gabrielle Dolan: Story Intelligence
- Cairn Podcast with Scott Arrol: Trust, Ecosystem Leadership and Digital Health
Resources
- AI Resources & Guides for NZ Businesses: Curated AI strategy reports, governance frameworks, and NZ-specific guidance.
Contact
- Email connect@cairn.nz or ben@newzealand.ai. Based in Dunedin, New Zealand.