The Ultimate Guide to Data centers
A curated Kiwi edition of TechDay news, analysis, interviews, reviews, job moves, and related resources for Data centers (DC).
What to know about Data centers
Data centers serve as the backbone of our digital world, housing the critical infrastructure that powers the internet, cloud services, and enterprise IT operations. They are pivotal in managing the ever-expanding volume of data generated across industries and consumers globally.
This collection of stories highlights the dynamic growth and technological innovations shaping data centers today. From expansions into emerging markets like Indonesia and Malaysia to the creation of AI-ready and sustainable campuses, data centers are evolving to meet increasing demands for performance, scalability, and environmental responsibility.
Readers will find insights into advancements in cooling technologies, energy efficiency, and the incorporation of renewable energy sources aimed at reducing carbon footprints. Moreover, the integration of AI and edge computing within data center architectures demonstrates how the industry adapts to modern workloads and latency-sensitive applications.
Security remains a critical theme, as data centers bolster defenses against cyber threats while ensuring compliance with emerging regulations. Partnerships between global tech firms and local providers underscore the importance of connectivity, interconnection, and hybrid cloud strategies in today’s data ecosystem.
Exploring these stories offers a comprehensive view of how data centers underpin digital transformation, drive innovation, and face challenges in sustainability, infrastructure expansion, and operational excellence.
Kiwi Data centers News
Regional stories with direct local relevance
Contact & CDC explore 250 MW Stratford data centre
The proposed 250 MW facility could bring fresh jobs and new renewable generation to Taranaki, but it still needs consent, finance and tenants.
Contact Energy's net profit climbs to $423 million, up 62 percent on last year
Higher renewable output and the Manawa Energy purchase lifted annual earnings, while Contact Energy eyes new demand from a proposed Taranaki data centre.
New Zealand data centre strategy backs AI expansion
Growing use of cloud and AI is driving demand for local processing, as the sector warns New Zealand risks relying on offshore systems.
Datagrid secures substation kit for Southland AI data centre
Long-lead transformers have been ordered to keep New Zealand's largest AI data centre on track for a late-2027 grid connection.
Microsoft appoints Nick Walton as NZ Managing Director
The appointment strengthens Microsoft's push in New Zealand as businesses weigh AI adoption, cloud investment and data-residency demands.
SiteHost launches local AI platform for New Zealand
Businesses wary of offshore AI will be able to keep requests in New Zealand, with usage-based billing and no upfront fee.
Analyst Insights
Research and market analysis connected to Data centers
Hitachi Vantara posts 12% revenue growth on AI demand
Data centre power market set to hit USD $70.94bn by 2034
Kyndryl launches agentic modernisation service platform
Tencent rolls out Hy3 internationally for enterprise AI
Cloudera named leader in Forrester's data lakehouse wave
Featured News
SUSE targets Australia's industrial edge to drive growth
Australian miners, shippers and utilities could be next to benefit as SUSE pushes edge computing and AI inference beyond data centres.
Check Point: Be the best, or get out the way
Rising AI-driven attacks are compel security buyers to cut vendor sprawl, though Check Point warns over-consolidation can still raise risk.
Exclusive: Virtuozzo sees GPU clouds reshape AI infrastructure
AI demand is pushing cloud providers towards GPU-as-a-service models, with efficiency and utilisation emerging as key differentiators.
Data storage gets profitable as Exaba targets US expansion
Exaba's local cloud storage pitch could give US managed services providers higher margins as it challenges AWS and Azure in a crowded market.
Trane Technologies drives huge energy and cost saving
Data-centre operators face rising power bills as Trane's HFO shift and liquid-cooling push cut emissions and HVAC costs.
Hype growing - but SMEs still face barriers to AI adoption
Small firms risk falling behind unless they adopt AI for practical gains, as SMEC AI says many are still confused by the technology.
Marvell targets AI connectivity bottleneck with NVIDIA boost
AI data centres are hitting copper limits, pushing Marvell and Nvidia towards optics as clusters grow larger and more distributed.
OT lapses could disrupt Australia's digital infrastructure
Australia's data-centre boom could leave clouds, banks and public services exposed if operators fail to secure the physical systems beneath them.
OVHcloud launches APAC Local Zone with Datacentre220
New Zealand firms gain a local cloud option as OVHCloud opens its first Asia-Pacific zone in Auckland, boosting resilience and data sovereignty.
Dell Technologies makes all the hardware cool again
Renewed AI spending is boosting demand for Dell's secure, certified infrastructure as companies chase faster deployment and lower cloud costs.
Dell numbers the days for hyperconverged infrastructure
Rising hypervisor costs and AI demand are pushing customers towards disaggregated systems, as Dell says HCI is becoming too expensive and inflexible.
Expert Columns
Why AI infrastructure planning must happen now
More isn't always better: Rethinking memory choices for modern workloads
Asia Pacific's next chapter of digital growth will be defined by trust, resilience and sovereignty
Why the next breakthrough in AI agents comes down to leadership, not technology
2026 security trends mid-year check-in: What's accelerating, what's stalling, and what comes next
How data centres make the FIFA World Cup possible
Navigating Asia's Digital Infrastructure: The Strategic Role of Hong Kong in Global Cloud and AI Expansion
Why business ambition is running ahead of AI readiness
The Death of the Firewall
Energy for AI, AI for energy: designing AI-ready data centres
Interviews
Interviews and video coverage from the networkRecent Data centers News
Chorus launches TimeSync precision timing service in NZ
The fibre-backed alternative could reduce reliance on GPS for banks, utilities and emergency services, improving resilience against outages and interference.
Datacom finds NZ firms untested on outage recovery
Many New Zealand firms say they could ride out an outage, but fewer than four in ten have tested recovery of critical systems recently.
New Zealanders worry about AI's environmental impact
A growing share of consumers want businesses to prove AI is powered responsibly, with younger New Zealanders most worried about its environmental costs.
One NZ report shows 82% fall in Scope 1 & 2 emissions
Verified climate targets have pushed One NZ to cut its reported Scope 1 and 2 emissions 82% from a 2024 baseline by FY2026.
Train and retain the catch cry to beat skilled labour shortage
Australia and New Zealand are facing tighter construction labour supplies as data centre, defence and Olympic projects drive demand and cost pressure.
NZ workers slow to adopt AI, but many hide how much they use it - report
More than a third of New Zealand workers feel guilty about using AI, as businesses lag peers in adopting it, a report says.
Just how expensive could it be if we get electricity demand wrong
Miscalculating AI-driven power demand could leave ratepayers funding stranded assets or, worse, expose households to blackouts and higher bills.
From biometrics to zero trust secures physical-digital divide
Organisations are pairing biometrics with layered access controls as cyber and physical threats converge inside data centres and other sensitive facilities.
Aon flags New Zealand construction insurance risks
Earthquake, flood and weather exposure are making cover pricier and harder to secure for longer New Zealand builds, Aon said.
Stats NZ's most valuable source of official data to get $58m makeover
The upgrade should speed access for researchers, easing long delays in using the IDI to analyse education, health and income data.
AI could drive advances that solve the problems it brings, computer scientist suggests
Higher electricity demand from artificial intelligence could be eased if it speeds up more efficient solar panels, batteries and chips.
Physical security guidance for New Zealand data centre hopes
New government guidance warns mega data centres are now critical infrastructure, with a single breach risking banking, logistics and communications.
Auckland land shortage drives prices to record highs
Businesses face higher costs and fewer large sites as Auckland’s shortage of development-ready industrial land pushes prices to record highs.
Land shortages and record building prices as Auckland nears capacity
Auckland’s shortage of development-ready sites is driving industrial land to USD $1,190 a square metre, lifting costs for businesses and investors.
2.5 tonnes of e-waste removed for large NZ logistics company
The warehouse clear-out freed space for a major supply chain group while diverting 2.5 tonnes of old electronics from landfill.
Microsoft says NZ contribution hits NZ$9.4bn in FY25
Local firms and agencies are using Microsoft's AI and cloud tools to lift productivity, as the company's NZ impact reaches NZ$9.4 billion in FY25.
TenPeaks appoints Whineray as Independent Chairman
Its carve-out from Spark leaves the operator expanding 11 New Zealand sites as cloud and AI demand drives more data centre capacity needs.
New technology applied at the design stage could save millions
Early use of digital twins on major builds could trim New Zealand's infrastructure overruns by millions and cut emissions by up to 80 percent.
Digital twin cuts costs & emissions at Te Rua archive
The archive’s digital model kept contingency spending at 5% and helped slash emissions by 80%, easing risk on NZD $290 million project.
One NZ adds rooftop solar to power Christchurch data
One NZ installs its first major rooftop solar array to help power a Christchurch data centre and nearby stadium mobile coverage site.
Job Moves
Microsoft appoints Nick Walton as NZ Managing Director
TenPeaks appoints Whineray as Independent Chairman
DLA Piper appoints Edward Eisdell-Moore as NZ tech partner
Atturra rebrands Plan B to expand IT services in New Zealand
DLA Piper expands New Zealand team with senior promotions & hires
