Microsoft NZ

Microsoft New Zealand (NZ) stands as a prominent force in the country’s technology sector, supporting businesses, government agencies, and individuals with advanced digital solutions. The company’s ongoing investment in local infrastructure, cloud services, and workforce development has made a significant difference to how organisations operate and grow. Below are concrete examples of how Microsoft NZ solutions have delivered real outcomes in business productivity, compliance, customer experience, and digital innovation.

Microsoft NZ Datacenter Region

A major milestone for Microsoft NZ is the launch of its local cloud infrastructure. This secure, energy-efficient facility offers organisations a trusted environment for data storage and processing. With Microsoft’s operations based in New Zealand, businesses can keep sensitive information within the country, supporting compliance with the Privacy Act 2020 as overseen by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner.

This local presence and Azure capability have already delivered significant benefits for leading enterprises. Dairy cooperative Fonterra entered a five-year partnership with Microsoft to migrate its operations to Azure, making it one of the first major customers of Microsoft’s New Zealand datacenter. By shifting from onsite data centers to Azure, Fonterra can now analyse operational data in real time. It can also optimise its supply chain and improve product quality using machine learning to detect faulty products. 

Organisations from a variety of sectors—including entertainment and online services—are also seeking secure, local hosting for their digital platforms. For example, businesses that review or aggregate online gaming and casino apps, such as casino-apps.nz, benefit from local data residency.  Complying with New Zealand regulations, they ensure user data is managed securely and transparently.

Careers at Microsoft NZ

Microsoft NZ fosters a culture focused on growth, collaboration, and diversity, encouraging employees to develop new skills and contribute to projects that make a real difference. For example, during ASB Bank’s transition to Microsoft Azure, more than 150 engineers earned Azure certifications. This investment in professional development directly supported the migration and ensured the bank’s workforce could drive ongoing digital initiatives.

Job Opportunities

A variety of roles are available at Microsoft NZ, suiting technology specialists, sales professionals, and those interested in customer support. The value of these opportunities is reflected in projects like Bank of New Zealand’s collaboration with Microsoft’s Fast Track team. Together, they migrated critical staff-assisted applications to Azure, automating failover processes, reducing recovery time, and improving security, risk management, and operational efficiency—demonstrating the practical impact of Microsoft NZ’s expertise.

Microsoft NZ Business Solutions

Microsoft NZ offers a comprehensive suite of business solutions designed to help organisations of all sizes improve productivity, collaboration, and security. Microsoft 365 is a platform for productivity and collaboration, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and more. 

Public Trust, New Zealand’s largest provider of wills and estate administration, modernized its customer service operations by implementing Dynamics 365 Contact Center, Customer Service, and Copilot. This integration unified phone, chat, and email channels, enabling staff to resolve customer issues more quickly and automate key processes such as will and power of attorney drafting. The result was increased operational efficiency and improved customer satisfaction.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence is a core focus, with practical applications across many sectors. Microsoft supports the New Zealand Government’s direction on AI, working to ensure that organisations can benefit from improved efficiency, accuracy, and productivity. AI tools from Microsoft are already being used in areas such as legal services, agriculture, and healthcare. 

Microsoft NZ has also worked in the metals and steel industry. Its partner Datacom collaborated with Vulcan Steel to develop a workplace safety solution using Microsoft AI and machine learning. The system analyzes data from sensors and cameras to detect safety risks in real time, reducing workplace incidents and supporting compliance with health and safety regulations.

Innovation at Microsoft NZ

Innovation is a key principle at Microsoft NZ. The company invests in research, development, and skills training to help organisations stay competitive. By supporting startups, software companies, and established enterprises, Microsoft helps drive economic growth and create new opportunities. This commitment to innovation is evident in the way public sector partners are leveraging Microsoft technologies to solve complex challenges.

Auckland Transport uses Microsoft Azure and SQL Server to analyse operational data from buses and provide real-time information to commuters through the MyStreet app. The agency also hosts its website on Azure to handle high traffic volumes and uses SharePoint Server to manage large-scale infrastructure projects like the NZ$2.4 billion City Rail Link. These solutions help Auckland Transport plan for population growth and deliver reliable services to the public.

Microsoft NZ Device Options

Microsoft NZ provides a selection of devices for business, education, and personal use. The Surface range includes laptops, tablets, and accessories designed for productivity and security. These devices integrate seamlessly with Microsoft’s cloud services and collaboration tools, enabling flexible work and learning environments. 

Fonterra provides its employees with Microsoft Surface devices, allowing them to work remotely and securely access business applications and data. This approach has helped Fonterra maintain strong productivity and collaboration across its distributed workforce, even during times of disruption.

Digital Transformation

Digital transformation is a central theme for Microsoft NZ. The company collaborates with partners such as Spark to accelerate cloud adoption and AI integration across industries. With the support of Microsoft’s local cloud region and compliance tools like Azure Policy automation, organisations can modernize operations while meeting regulatory requirements.

One organisation benefiting from this approach is Todd Energy. By adopting Microsoft 365 and Power BI, Todd Energy unified its teams and streamlined operations through a single, cloud-based platform. Staff now collaborate in real time and make faster, data-informed decisions. The use of Surface Pros for digital board papers has reduced paper waste and enhanced security, while Azure-hosted applications support ongoing compliance and records management.

Implementation

Implementing Microsoft solutions in New Zealand is straightforward, thanks to a network of certified partners and comprehensive support programs. From initial consultation to deployment and ongoing management, Microsoft and its partners provide guidance and expertise. This collaborative approach has been instrumental in delivering successful technology projects for major organisations. Auckland Transport partnered with LeapThought to implement Fulcrum, a Microsoft SharePoint-based solution for managing complex capital projects. This system allowed the agency to oversee large infrastructure initiatives efficiently, ensuring projects like the City Rail Link were delivered on schedule and within budget.