Visa grows Auckland tech talent with Code & Connect event

Visa has hosted its second annual Code & Connect event in Auckland as part of its ongoing efforts to support emerging technology talent in New Zealand.

The Code & Connect event falls under Visa's wider Technology Graduate and Internship Programme, which aims to provide early-career professionals with practical experience, mentorship, and clear career pathways at Visa.

This year's iteration saw 51 university students take part, selected from over 500 applicants across New Zealand. The programme included a coding challenge, an office tour, opportunities for networking, and sessions led by Visa staff that highlighted aspects of workplace culture and the company's technological focus.

Nick Cahill, Engineering VP for Visa Spend Clarity, said: "This programme is about more than recruitment – it's about developing a robust, diverse, and locally grounded tech talent pipeline. We're committed to offering young professionals not just a role, but a meaningful springboard into long-term careers in technology."

For the 2026 intake, Visa is offering 10 technology roles, with expectations that up to seven positions will be filled by students who attended this year's Code & Connect event. Although intern placements for 2025 are now filled, the event remains integral to Visa's overall hiring strategy.

The company is prioritising diversity and inclusion, particularly in fostering Māori and Pacific representation within New Zealand's technology sector, where fewer than 5% of roles are currently held by people from those groups, with even lower figures in leadership positions. In this effort, Visa has a partnership with TupuToa – an organisation focused on supporting Māori and Pacific peoples' entry into leadership.

Emily Wang, Senior Director of Engineering, said: "We're incredibly proud of the diversity we're seeing in our early-career cohorts. From student association leaders to our talented TupuToa interns, these young professionals showcased their passion and skills during their internships and are set to shape the future of technology in Aotearoa."

Visa's partnership with TupuToa is reflected in the hiring of two interns from the programme for graduate roles beginning in 2026. Three previous TupuToa interns are also returning for a second year, pointing to Visa's retention success and sustained engagement through its Early Careers programme.

Anneke Muir, who will join Visa's Technology Graduate Programme in February 2026, said: "I feel incredibly fortunate to have spent the summer as a software engineering intern at Visa. The team was welcoming, and I gained valuable technical skills through hands-on projects. I hadn't expected the corporate world to be this fun. I'm excited to return and continue growing with the team."

Since the introduction of its Early Careers initiative in 2024, Visa's associate-level hires in New Zealand have increased from one in 2023 to over 18 in 2025, reflecting growing demand for digital talent and Visa's continued commitment to developing it within the country.

Cahill highlighted Visa's approach to internships, adding: "Internships at Visa aren't just a summer gig – they're a launchpad. If you join us as an intern and thrive, there's a real chance we'll offer you a graduate role."

Visa has outlined plans to expand its early-career programme beyond engineering, aiming to support a wider range of young professionals and innovators in Auckland in future years.