Image Alt Text: Graphic shows Honomoana Cable with branch into New Zealand

Highlighting this potential for Kiwi businesses and economy, a Google-commissioned report by Public First shows AI could add $36 billion to the economy - the equivalent of the Waikato’s GDP - and boost productivity by over 10%, across industries like healthcare, education, and financial services. 

To maximise the AI opportunity, there are some clear pathways New Zealand must take to ensure this opportunity is realised. 

AI for Aotearoa

AI will drive New Zealand’s next stage of economic development. It will make our government and industry more efficient and help us tackle key social and economic challenges through science and technology. Managed well, AI could help to build a safer, healthier, and more productive Aotearoa, benefiting all New Zealanders.

Digital infrastructure must keep pace with new demands. Honomoana is a new subsea cable that will significantly strengthen New Zealand's digital resilience, capacity, and reach across the Pacific - a region deeply connected to our culture, economy and security. Delivered in partnership with several parties, this investment will provide new, resilient connections, including: 

• the first direct path between New Zealand and Melbourne, Australia, 

• the first direct connection from New Zealand to Polynesia and

• the first Southern Pacific path to South America via Chile. 

We are partnering with local organisations like EonFibre and CDC Data Centres, and engaging with local communities, iwi, and local government to land this connection.

Richard Mooney, CEO EonFibre said “We’re delighted to collaborate with Google to construct the new fiber infrastructure required for the Honomoana cable. This new subsea cable will bolster New Zealand’s digital infrastructure foundations and further strengthen our country’s connectivity beyond its shores, which is vital for us to harness the economic opportunities presented by AI and cloud computing adoption.” 

Managing Director of New Zealand at CDC Data Centres, Andrew Kirker, said "We are delighted to support “Honomoana” and be the landing point for the submarine cable across the Pacific into New Zealand. Much like CDC’s data centres, this cable is a key piece of infrastructure and another essential component of our digital ecosystem. Together, submarine cables and data centres create the digital superhighways that connect the world and enable seamless connectivity and digital services. This new connection further positions New Zealand to capture the billions of dollars in economic and productivity value from advancements in cloud, AI and advanced computing. It has been a privilege for the CDC team to collaborate with Google on this significant project."

The cable will also link New Zealand to the previously announced Pacific Connect Initiative, a trans-Pacific subsea network including connections to Fiji and French Polynesia. Honomoana is in advanced construction stages and is expected to land in Ōrewa, Auckland, in early 2026. 

AI can also improve energy efficiency by managing smart grids and improving forecasting for renewable energy sources*. Google’s AI is already helping to improve Auckland’s electric grid, through a partnership between Tapestry, X’s moonshot for the electric grid and Vector Limited who are working to apply tools like AI, computer vision and machine learning to transform grid management, maintenance and planning. Inspections that once took Vector’s engineers 30-45 minutes per pole can now be accomplished in just 5 to 7 minutes—that’s 83% faster.

These projects build on existing initiatives that use AI to benefit New Zealanders, from improved prediction of river flooding, and fauna preservation to powering our most advanced AI Search experience yet — AI Mode.

AI For You

Only one third of Kiwis integrate AI into their daily routines. Widespread AI literacy is essential to capture the higher wages and more valuable jobs AI promises. Kiwis must upskill now.

• We expect half of all New Zealanders to use AI regularly in the next five years

• 50% of workers want skills training to help them to better take advantage of AI

Google is meeting this demand with programmes like AI Essentials which offers practical AI skills, no prior experience needed. Our free Google Workspace for Education suite is in over 80% of Aotearoa’s schools. Gemini is built for education, acting as a teacher aide to reduce teacher workload and help prevent burnout. Google.org supports programs to help New Zealanders thrive in an AI-driven world:

• Experience AI: Raspberry Pi Foundation (with implementation partners like Tōnui Collab) is launching this program, co-developed by Google Deepmind, to equip educators with tools to teach students (ages 11–14) about foundations of AI and machine learning.

• Asia-Pacific Digital Transformation Programme: Netsafe will work with Tribal Aotearoa NZ to build an AI tool that alerts users to online scams and fraudulent websites.

• AI Opportunity Fund: Adult Waitakere Literacy will support adult AI learning and skill development for workforce and jobseekers.

Transformative global models like our own Gemini 2.5 series - the world’s best model by leading independent benchmarks - help New Zealanders achieve more. Tools like Gemini Live provide a personal problem solver in your pocket that can see and hear your world with you, helping you get things done smarter, faster, and easier.

AI for Business

Kiwis are innovators; this mindset must now embrace AI in business. Our research shows that only 29% of current AI users were encouraged by their company leadership. New Zealand businesses must drive AI adoption for productivity, efficiency and profit.  We see New Zealand businesses pushing boundaries with AI:

• Starboard Maritime, has built its platform on Google Cloud from the outset, leveraging its scalability, robustness and reliability. The infrastructure allows Starboard to fuse multiple data sources and provide a comprehensive view of maritime activity—vital for protecting maritime borders, marine parks, submarine cables, offshore infrastructure, and for improving maritime safety.

• Auckland Council is trialing 'Ask Auckland Council', an AI assistant leveraging Google Cloud AI solutions and Deloitte, to get residents information quickly and easily.

We’re proud to support these leading New Zealand businesses using our breakthroughs in AI models, agents, and purpose-built AI chips. Our AI-powered products and services, from Search to Cloud AI, supported an estimated NZ$8.8 billion in economic activity for businesses in 2024 alone.

AI is central to Google’s mission. As New Zealand enters the next phase of the AI era, we’re committing to ensuring all Kiwis have access to the knowledge and tools needed to drive this transformation.