Amazon New Zealand data centres are set to transform the country into a regional hub for cloud services, following the launch of a new AWS cloud region in NZ that brings advanced infrastructure, new jobs, and renewable energy commitments.
Amazon New Zealand Data Centers Officially Launched by AWS
Amazon Web Services (AWS) declared the inception of the Asia Pacific (New Zealand) Region, which validated an investment of US4.4 billion (NZ7.5 billion). The launch delivers three Availability Zones that are independent in terms of power, cooling, and physical security. Low-latency networks connect these zones to provide business workloads with resiliency and scalability.
Watch how Amazon is building its New Zealand data centers and what it means for the cloud economy here:
AWS cloud region NZ will allow local customers like Xero and Kiwibank to deploy artificial intelligence applications, store data securely, and provide faster digital service delivery. Hosting workloads locally also allows organisations to satisfy data residency requirements with lower latency.
Kia Ora! The #AWS Asia Pacific (New Zealand) Region is now open. 🇳🇿 https://t.co/0pg7fmNztQ
The Region will enable customers to securely store their content/workloads in New Zealand, and access the latest cloud and AI services to drive growth and innovation. pic.twitter.com/P6gbuP9HIj
— AWS Cloud ANZ (@AWSCloudANZ) September 1, 2025
Prasad Kalyanaraman, vice president of infrastructure services at AWS, said the new region will help organisations of all sizes accelerate digital transformation. He emphasised that the infrastructure supports both traditional cloud applications and advanced workloads, including machine learning and analytics.
Amazon New Zealand Data Centers to Drive Economic Expansion and Job Creation
The project is expected to generate more than 1000 full-time jobs per year in various sectors. These can include engineering and telecommunications, as well as operations and long-term maintenance of facilities. The investment in the NZ jobs data centre should be contributing approximately NZ$10.8 billion (US$6.33 billion) to the national economy.
AWS investment set to boost GDP by NZ $15.3B and create 1,000 jobs yearly
Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand, described the project as a vote of confidence in the country. He said the investment will foster innovation, build long-term opportunities, and create well-paying jobs.
Graeme Muller, CEO of NZTech, echoed the importance of the AWS cloud region NZ, saying that it positions New Zealand businesses for growth while creating career opportunities across technology and other industries.
Sustainability at the Core of Amazon New Zealand Data Centers
Amazon New Zealand data centres will run on renewable energy from the country’s largest wind farm, located around 150 kilometres north of Wellington. The project aligns with Amazon’s commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 under The Climate Pledge.
AWS pledges to power all New Zealand operations with 100% renewable energy
AWS has partnered with Mercury NZ for the Turitea South wind farm to ensure 100 per cent renewable energy from day one of operations. The company has also invested in energy-efficient designs and cooling technologies, while its custom-built chips reduce overall consumption compared to traditional enterprise data centres.
Reports from Accenture indicate that AWS infrastructure is up to 4.1 times more energy efficient than standard facilities, reducing emissions and ensuring sustainability targets are met alongside digital growth.
Leadership Speaks on New Zealand’s Role in AWS Global Strategy
Amazon New Zealand data centres are part of a broader expansion plan across the Asia-Pacific. Amazon has committed more than US$50 billion in the region, with investments covering Australia, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.
In Australia, the company pledged AU$20 billion to expand its infrastructure, the largest technology investment in that nation’s history. This was followed by similar commitments in other markets, including a US$13 billion expansion in Australia announced earlier this year and a US$10 billion project in North Carolina.
Industry observers note that these projects serve as building blocks for Amazon’s global artificial intelligence infrastructure strategy. By deploying data centres in new regions, the company secures local customers while providing the scale required for AI and cloud adoption worldwide.
How Amazon New Zealand Data Centers Support Digital Skills and Education
AWS cloud region NZ provides organisations with an opportunity to innovate in various fields. New Zealand has developed services like analytics, machine learning, networking, and content delivery, which customers can now exploit. The infrastructure lowers the latency and supports mission-critical applications.
AWS has also partnered with local businesses and government agencies. Existing clients include the Ministry of Transport, TVNZ, and the University of Auckland. These partnerships show how the cloud is already embedded across industries from finance to media and education.
Over 50,000 Kiwis trained in cloud skills to prepare for the digital future
Matt Garman, CEO of AWS, noted in a LinkedIn post that Amazon has already trained more than 50,000 New Zealanders in cloud skills. He confirmed plans to train 100,000 individuals through AWS Academy, AWS Educate, and AWS Skill Builder programs. This training aligns with a Memorandum of Understanding signed with the New Zealand Government.
Market Position and Competition
Amazon New Zealand data centres strengthen AWS’s leadership position at a time of increasing competition in the global cloud market. AWS revenue grew 18 per cent year-on-year in Q2 2024, reaching US$30.87 billion. However, rivals Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud posted faster growth at 39 per cent and 32 per cent, respectively.
Andy Jassy, CEO of Amazon, recently addressed a slowdown in AWS’s growth, explaining that it stemmed from power-related capacity constraints rather than demand. He reported a backlog of US$195 billion, up 25 per cent year-over-year, showing continued demand for cloud and AI workloads.
AWS leadership highlights New Zealand as a rising regional tech hub
The addition of the AWS cloud region in NZ directly addresses these capacity constraints by expanding resources to new geographies. Each new investment adds customers while reinforcing AWS’s scale advantage in the cloud market.
Local Development and Training
Amazon is also investing in community development in New Zealand beyond infrastructure. This 100,000-person training commitment is based on the 50,000 people already trained with cloud skills. These initiatives will facilitate the transfer of local talent into the jobs that go hand in hand with the NZ jobs data centre investment.
The government is looking to provide the workforce with skills to operate in the field of cloud engineering, cybersecurity, and data management through university collaborations and programs. This human resource development promises long-term gains that cannot be realised in the short term during construction and operation employment.
Also Read: The Future of Jobs in Australia: How AI Could Reshape Work and Opportunity
The Future of Cloud Innovation with Amazon New Zealand Data Centers
Amazon New Zealand data centres are expected to play a central role in the nation’s digital economy. The NZ$7.5 billion investment acts as a multiplier, delivering long-term GDP growth of around NZ$10.8 billion and creating annual employment opportunities.
The region offers businesses the ability to run workloads locally while complying with data residency requirements. Customers across finance, healthcare, agriculture, and government sectors are expected to adopt AWS technologies to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
As global demand for artificial intelligence and machine learning accelerates, the AWS cloud region in New Zealand positions New Zealand to serve as a regional hub. By providing scalable, secure, and renewable-powered infrastructure, Amazon ensures that New Zealand remains competitive in the Asia-Pacific digital landscape.
