AWS Asia Pacific (New Zealand) Region Now Open, Offers Enhanced Security and Compliance

AWS has launched its Asia Pacific (New Zealand) Region with three Availability Zones and API name ap-southeast-6, enabling customers to run workloads and store data in New Zealand with lower latency. The NZD $7.5 billion investment is expected to contribute NZD $10.8 billion to New Zealand's GDP, create 1,000 new jobs annually, and enable Kiwi organizations to innovate and scale faster. AWS has also expanded its infrastructure in New Zealand, including connectivity, Amazon CloudFront, AWS Local Zones, and Direct Connect locations.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced the launch of its Asia Pacific (New Zealand) Region, marking a significant milestone in the company's global expansion. The new AWS Region, designated with the API name ap-southeast-6, includes three Availability Zones, providing customers with the ability to run workloads and store data in New Zealand with lower latency. This strategic move is part of AWS's broader commitment to supporting the country's digital transformation and economic growth.

The investment in the new AWS Region is substantial, with Amazon planning to invest more than NZD $7.5 billion in New Zealand. This investment is expected to contribute approximately NZD $10.8 billion to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) and create an average of more than 1,000 full-time equivalent jobs annually. The new region will support a wide range of industries, including finance, retail, education, government, and nonprofits, empowering them to innovate and scale faster.

AWS has also expanded its infrastructure in New Zealand, enhancing connectivity through diverse, high-capacity subsea cable connections, Amazon CloudFront edge locations, AWS Local Zones, and Direct Connect locations. These enhancements aim to improve network reliability and performance for customers, enabling them to leverage advanced AWS technologies with minimal latency.

The AWS Asia Pacific (New Zealand) Region is designed to meet local data residency requirements, ensuring that customers can securely store their content within New Zealand. This sovereign-by-design approach aligns with AWS's long-standing commitment to data privacy and security.

Amazon's investment in New Zealand is part of a broader strategy to support the development of digital skills. Through initiatives such as AWS Academy, AWS Educate, and AWS Skill Builder, Amazon has committed to training 100,000 people in New Zealand in cloud skills. The company has already provided training to more than 50,000 individuals, with plans to hire and develop additional local personnel to operate and support the new AWS Region.

In addition to its economic benefits, the AWS Asia Pacific (New Zealand) Region is underpinned by renewable energy from day one. Amazon has partnered with Mercury NZ to support the development of new renewable energy capacity in New Zealand, demonstrating the company's commitment to sustainability.

The launch of the AWS Asia Pacific (New Zealand) Region is a testament to Amazon's long-term thinking and commitment to supporting the growth of technology hubs in the Asia Pacific region. As AWS continues to expand its global infrastructure, the new region in New Zealand is poised to drive innovation, reduce costs, and accelerate transformation for customers across various industries.

References:
[1] https://www.morningstar.com/news/business-wire/20250829537963/amazon-launches-infrastructure-region-in-new-zealand