AI will drive New Zealand’s next stage of economic development but its infrastructure must keep pace with new demands. Google recently announced Honomoana, a new subsea cable that will significantly expand New Zealand’s digital reach across the Pacific and beyond.
New Zealand's digital infrastructure must keep pace with new demands, and Honomoana is a new subsea cable that will significantly strengthen New Zealand's digital resilience, capacity, and reach across the Pacific. Delivered in partnership with several parties, this investment will provide new, resilient connections, including:
Google is partnering with local organisations like EonFibre and CDC Data Centres, and engaging with local communities, iwi, and local government to land this connection. Brian Quigley, Vice President of Global Network Infrastructure at Google, comments:
We have been investing in AI research, tools, and infrastructure for two decades because it's the most profound way we can deliver on our mission - and ensure the digital divide doesn't become the AI divide. We are excited to collaborate with Kiwi partners to bring the Honomoana subsea cable to New Zealand, enhancing the reach, reliability, and resiliency of digital access in Aotearoa and across the Indo-Pacific region."
Richard Mooney, CEO EonFibre said “We’re delighted to collaborate with Google to construct the new fiber infrastructure required for the Honomoana cable. This new subsea cable will bolster New Zealand’s digital infrastructure foundations and further strengthen our country’s connectivity beyond its shores, which is vital for us to harness the economic opportunities presented by AI and cloud computing adoption.”
Managing Director of New Zealand at CDC Data Centres, Andrew Kirker, said "We are delighted to support “Honomoana” and be the landing point for the submarine cable across the Pacific into New Zealand. Much like CDC’s data centres, this cable is a key piece of infrastructure and another essential component of our digital ecosystem. Together, submarine cables and data centres create the digital superhighways that connect the world and enable seamless connectivity and digital services. This new connection further positions New Zealand to capture the billions of dollars in economic and productivity value from advancements in cloud, AI and advanced computing. It has been a privilege for the CDC team to collaborate with Google on this significant project."
Honomoana is now at an advanced stage of construction and the cable is scheduled to land in North Auckland in early 2026. It is expected to reinforce New Zealand's digital resilience, increase bandwidth, and extend the country's reach across the Pacific region.