Amazon Web Services (AWS) will launch its first data centre and cloud region (the location holding the physical cloud hosting infrastructure) in New Zealand by 2024. Building new infrastructure locally would also include training New Zealanders with in-demand digital skills and helping local organisations deliver applications that accelerate digital transformation and fuel economic growth. 

AWS opened its first New Zealand entity in Auckland in 2014. In 2021, it further expanded its presence by opening new offices in Auckland and Wellington to support a growing team of more than 100 employees.

With its plans to invest NZ$7.5bn (US$5.3bn) in New Zealand over the next 15 years, AWS looks to  create about 1,000 new jobs. 

Prasad Kalyanaraman, vice-president of infrastructure services at AWS, said that the company is committed to contribute to the economic growth and development of the country. 

As per GlobalData, hyperscale data centres, with upwards of 5,000 servers each, will represent 53% of all data centres by the end of 2021. These investments can support local economic growth through job creation and boosting digitisation among local organisations.