The dawn of a new era in cloud computing has arrived for New Zealand with the official launch of the AWS Asia Pacific (New Zealand) Region. This development marks a significant milestone, not just for Amazon Web Services (AWS), but for the entire nation, as it opens up unprecedented opportunities for both local businesses and the global tech community. With the introduction of this new region, AWS has extended its global footprint to include three Availability Zones in New Zealand, which are now accessible under the API name ap-southeast-6. This expansion allows businesses and innovators to run their workloads and securely store data locally, all while delivering services to end-users with reduced latency.
The establishment of the AWS Asia Pacific (New Zealand) Region is underpinned by a significant investment of NZD $7.5 billion. This investment is projected to inject NZD $10.8 billion into New Zealand’s GDP over the next decade, creating approximately 1,000 jobs annually. Such a substantial financial commitment signals Amazon’s confidence in the region’s potential for innovation and growth, fostering an environment where Kiwi businesses can scale and innovate with the support of a robust and secure infrastructure.
### AWS’s Journey in New Zealand
AWS’s journey in New Zealand began in 2013 with the opening of its first office. Since then, AWS has continually expanded its infrastructure to better serve local customers. In 2016, AWS bolstered New Zealand’s connectivity to its global network by implementing high-capacity subsea cable connections. This move significantly enhanced network reliability and performance for AWS customers across New Zealand.
In 2020, AWS further expanded its infrastructure footprint by adding two Amazon CloudFront edge locations in Auckland. CloudFront is AWS’s content delivery network that helps speed up the distribution of content to end-users by storing cached copies of data closer to their geographical location. This improvement reduced latency and improved user experience for services hosted on AWS.
The momentum continued in 2023 with the introduction of AWS Local Zones in Auckland. These Local Zones allow customers to run applications that require single-digit millisecond latency, further enhancing the performance of time-sensitive applications. Additionally, AWS introduced a Direct Connect location in Auckland, offering a dedicated network connection between the customer’s on-premises infrastructure and AWS. This setup enables lower networking costs, improved bandwidth throughput, and a more consistent network experience.
### Security and Compliance
In line with New Zealand’s cloud-first policy, which promotes cloud adoption across the public sector, AWS offers a comprehensive suite of security measures and compliance certifications that meet global standards. AWS supports 143 security standards, including well-known frameworks like the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), among others. These certifications ensure that customers can meet compliance requirements and maintain a secure cloud infrastructure globally.
Organizations like MATTR, which provides digital trust services, are already reaping the benefits of the new AWS region. MATTR, along with other prominent New Zealand organizations such as Kiwibank and Deloitte, is leveraging the AWS infrastructure to enhance service delivery and innovation.
### Accelerating AI Innovation
AWS is at the forefront of AI innovation, offering an extensive array of tools and services for developing generative AI applications. Through platforms like Amazon Bedrock and Amazon Q, AWS provides customers with the most advanced large language models (LLMs) to implement AI solutions seamlessly. In New Zealand, companies like Thematic, a leader in customer intelligence and feedback analysis, are using AWS’s AI capabilities to transform raw data into actionable intelligence. The ease of use and performance of AWS’s LLMs have made them a preferred choice for businesses looking to harness the power of AI.
### Building Cloud Skills
AWS’s collaboration with the New Zealand government, formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in 2022, emphasizes the importance of cloud education. Amazon has already trained over 50,000 Kiwis, contributing to a goal of 100,000 trained individuals in cloud technologies. AWS offers a range of educational programs, including AWS Academy, AWS Skills Builder, and AWS re/Start, to equip New Zealand’s workforce with the skills needed to thrive in a cloud-driven world.
Companies like Xero, a global small business platform, have utilized AWS since 2016 to scale their operations globally while fostering local talent development. The AWS ecosystem presents opportunities for New Zealand tech exporters to connect with global markets, leveraging the comprehensive infrastructure and resources available.
### Sustainable Digital Transformation
Amazon’s commitment to sustainability is embodied in The Climate Pledge, aiming for net-zero carbon across its operations by 2040. The AWS Asia Pacific (New Zealand) Region supports New Zealand’s sustainability goals through renewable energy partnerships, including an agreement with Mercury New Zealand to power its data centers with renewable energy from the outset. This commitment to sustainable operations aligns with the goals of companies like Sharesies, which use AWS to modernize operations while prioritizing sustainability.
### AWS Partners and Community
The AWS Partner Network (APN) in New Zealand is growing rapidly, with consulting and technology partners helping businesses of all sizes leverage AWS services. Partners such as Custom D, Grant Thornton Digital, MongoDB, and Parallo deliver innovative solutions tailored to the specific needs of New Zealand’s industries. The new AWS region empowers these partners to provide even more robust and localized services.
The AWS community in New Zealand is vibrant, with one AWS Hero, 26 AWS Community Builders, and active AWS User Groups in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. These groups foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among nearly 9,000 community members, helping to unlock the potential of cloud technologies for businesses and developers in New Zealand.
### Conclusion
The launch of the AWS Asia Pacific (New Zealand) Region marks a significant advancement in New Zealand’s technological landscape. As the first AWS region in the country and the sixteenth in the Asia Pacific, it provides a gateway for local businesses to innovate, grow, and compete on a global scale. With plans for additional Availability Zones and AWS Regions in other parts of the world, AWS continues to expand its global infrastructure, supporting the needs of diverse businesses and industries.
For more details on the services available in the new region, visit the AWS Services by Region page. The future of cloud computing in New Zealand looks bright, and AWS is poised to play a pivotal role in shaping that future.
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