Expanded goal to provide a further 200,000 Kiwis with support to learn workforce-ready AI skills

Microsoft has today announced it will double its existing AI and digital skilling commitment in New Zealand, opening access for a further 200,000 people by the end of 2028. This will help build an AI-ready workforce and supports the goals of New Zealand’s national AI Strategy to accelerate AI adoption and build capability. 

When Microsoft opened New Zealand’s first hyperscale datacentre region in December 2024, it committed to helping 100,000 New Zealanders build AI and digital skills by the end of 2026. With three quarters of that goal already achieved well within the timeframe, Microsoft is now accelerating its skilling efforts to meet the increasing demand for AI transformation.  

“New Zealand is building strong momentum in AI adoption. However, now is not the time to take our foot off the accelerator,” said Jane Livesey, President, Microsoft Australia and New Zealand. “Studies have shown generative AI could contribute between $76 and $108 billion to our economy each year by 2038. Making the most of that opportunity means we need to be investing in building those foundation skills. The more New Zealanders who are confident using AI, the more organisations will be able to transform the way they work, for the benefit of the whole economy.”  

The expanded commitment reflects the scale of the opportunity ahead. As AI adoption gathers pace, building capability across the private and public sectors will be critical to helping New Zealand lift productivity and strengthen innovation. The 2025 Microsoft Work Trend Index found 59% of Kiwi business leaders say productivity must increase, but 79% of both leaders and workers say they’re lacking enough time or energy to do their work. At the same time, recent LinkedIn research shows hiring for AI talent has grown more than 300% worldwide over the past nine years – with eight in ten C‑suite leaders now prioritising candidates with AI confidence over experience alone.  

Accelerating AI diffusion through practical Elevate skilling programmes 

It’s essential to ensure no one is left behind, and that the benefits of AI adoption are shared equally across all of society. Expanding access to practical training is one of the clearest ways to support wider participation across the economy and help ensure more people, educators and organisations are equipped to use these technologies well. The expanded commitment will be supported by new deep learning programmes to help improve social prosperity across New Zealand.  

Microsoft Elevate for Educators is designed to help schools and education institutions bring AI skills into teaching and learning at scale. The free program supports educators and education leaders help schools move from early experimentation to consistent, safe adoption by combining trusted credentials, professional learning communities and system level guidance. 

Through Elevate for Educators, teachers and school leaders can access the AI Literacy for Educators credential – a globally recognised standard for understanding, applying and leading responsible AI in schools – alongside practical training, implementation guidance and classroom‑ready resources. Together, these help education systems move from experimentation to everyday use, building the practical AI capability needed to improve teaching and learning outcomes over time. For students, this means earlier access to the skills needed to understand and apply AI in real‑world contexts, helping them graduate with the confidence to use these tools responsibly and participate more effectively in an AI‑enabled workforce. 

Elevate for Changemakers is designed to support community and nonprofit leaders as they build AI capability within their organisations and the communities they serve. Community organisations face many of the same challenges as business, but often with more limited time and resource. Access to practical training can help those leaders understand how AI can support service delivery, planning and administration, while building confidence in using the technology. 

Strengthening AI capability across today’s workforce 

Microsoft has been working closely with customers such as Fonterra, Spark and Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora to help upskill their teams as they adopt AI at pace. Health NZ’s Hauora Māori Services team has provided a blueprint that other organisations can follow, implementing Microsoft 365 Copilot to ensure any use of AI reflects Māori values and aligns with expectations around data and security, so the platform is being used with confidence by Māori and non‑Māori team members alike. 

Through tools like AI Skills Navigator, we’re bringing together curated training from Microsoft and LinkedIn Learning into a single, accessible experience. People can build practical skills through flexible, online learning that can be completed at their own pace, regardless of their skill level. Free trainings such as Investing in Human Skills in the Age of AI – inspired by the book Open to Work by LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky and LinkedIn Chief Economic Opportunity Officer Aneesh Raman – and this selection of free courses to earn professional certificates on AI, cybersecurity and more, look to explore the growing importance of critical thinking, empathy, communication and creativity as AI reshapes the way we live and work. 

Putting AI skills into the hands of communities 

This reflects Microsoft’s broader work to support underrepresented communities across the motu. We’re proud to have led initiatives like 10K Women, which exceeded its target in 2025, and to be supporting West Auckland’s creative sector through partnerships with the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, Auckland Council, the Ministry of Social Development and Seen Ventures. 

Adult lifelong learners have already been partnered with employers to work on real-life projects that build their creative technology skills. We will soon be working with schools and kura kaupapa in West Auckland to help young learners research and create informed, quality social media content. It’s not just about understanding how to use AI and different digital platforms to create content, but also the ethical considerations that go along with creating digital media. Students will have the opportunity to earn NCEA credits. Furthermore, to ensure accessibility to all students across kura kaupapa and schools, all training resources will be translated into te reo Māori. 

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