Why IT?
Technology is one of New Zealand's biggest industries and one of its top export earners. Employers keep looking for people with digital skills. Here's what the numbers say.
The tech sector in numbers
3rd
New Zealand's third-largest export sector in 2024, after dairy and tourism.
$11.4b
Tech exports in 2024, up 7.4% in a year.
$23.8b
Added to New Zealand's economy in 2024: 8% of the total.
119,520
People working in the tech sector in 2024, at 24,012 tech companies.
Source: NZTech, New Zealand Technology Key Metrics 2024 (2025), from Statistics NZ data.
| Export sector | 2024 (NZ$) |
|---|---|
| Dairy | $20.5b |
| Tourism | $15.8b |
| Technology | $11.4b |
New Zealand tech companies work with the world: in 2024, the top 200 tech exporters earned $13.5 billion of their $18 billion revenue from overseas customers (Tech New Zealand, from the TIN Report 2024).
Auckland is where the tech jobs are
52%
of New Zealand's tech jobs are in Auckland: 62,504 people in 2024.
44%
of New Zealand's tech companies are based in Auckland.
Our campus is in the centre of Auckland, close to the biggest group of tech employers in the country.
Employers are hiring
In a 2025 survey of New Zealand organisations about digital skills:
63%
had recruited, or were recruiting, for a digital role in the past 12 months.
51%
expect their hiring of digital roles to increase.
32%
find digital roles challenging to fill.
Source: Digital Skills Aotearoa, 4th edition (Tech New Zealand, 2026), from a Toi Mai Workforce Development Council survey.
The skills employers want most are software development and testing, and cloud and infrastructure. Artificial intelligence (AI) is now the most sought-after emerging skill. Our diplomas build skills in exactly these areas, and cybersecurity is the focus of our Level 6 diploma.
What SEEK job ads are telling us
13%
more IT job ads in April 2026 than a year earlier.
17.6%
of IT job ads ask for AI skills, compared with 4.0% of all job ads (August 2026).
Source: SEEK, an employment marketplace. SEEK NZ Employment Reports, April and August 2026.
Tech jobs are in every industry
Tech skills aren't only for tech companies. More than 132,000 people work in information and communications technology (ICT) jobs across New Zealand's wider economy, in banks, hospitals, government, farming, retail and more (2023 Census).
What employers look for
Technical skills
- Software development and testing
- Cloud and infrastructure
- Cybersecurity
- AI and machine learning
- Full-stack development, Python, JavaScript and SQL
- Cloud platforms such as AWS and Azure
People skills
- Collaboration: now the most in-demand soft skill
- Communication
- Critical thinking and problem-solving
- Adaptability
- Time management
Source: Digital Skills Aotearoa, 4th edition (Tech New Zealand, 2026), from the 2025 Digital Skills Survey by Toi Mai.
Our diplomas build the technical skills, and Aspire2 Plus helps you build the people skills: teamwork, communication and interview practice.
Cybersecurity matters more than ever
New Zealand loses about $1.6 billion to cybercrime every year, and Tech New Zealand is calling for more investment in cybersecurity (Tech & Innovation Manifesto 2026). Organisations need people who can protect their systems and data. That's the focus of our Level 6 Diploma in Cybersecurity.
AI is creating new roles
New Zealand organisations that use AI report that it is changing how they work, and creating jobs as well as changing them:
- 91% of organisations using AI report efficiency gains
- 55% say AI has created new career opportunities
Source: AI Forum New Zealand, New Zealand's AI Productivity Report (August 2025), a survey of organisations using AI.
As Tech New Zealand puts it: "AI does not reduce the need for advanced digital skills, it increases it." That's why we teach you to use AI well.
Where your diploma can take you
| Your diploma | Jobs you could start in |
|---|---|
| Level 5: Infrastructure & Technical Support | Computer technician, helpdesk and technical support officer, entry-level network administrator |
| Level 5: Software Development | Entry-level roles building or customising web and software solutions |
| Level 5: Applied Digital Technologies | Roles using digital tools and systems to support business operations |
| Level 6: Cybersecurity | Security analyst, security tester, security administrator, incident analyst |
Jobs from NZQA's qualification listings (5567 and 3837). See what people in related careers earn.
Skills New Zealand needs
Several IT roles are on Immigration New Zealand's Green List of jobs the country needs people for, including Software Engineer, Developer Programmer, Systems Administrator and ICT Security Specialist. Each Green List role has its own qualification, experience and pay requirements.
A diploma is your first step. Most of these roles need experience as well as a qualification. We help you build both: practical skills in class, and work-ready skills through Aspire2 Plus and Aspire2 Work. We can't promise you a job or a visa, but we'll help you get ready for both.
Start your IT career here
Sign up today and one of our team will be in touch within 24 hours to talk about your goals and the right course for you.