New Zealanders are Losing More Than $1.6 Billion Annually to Cybercrime, Government Report Finds
Backed by Microsoft, the New Zealand government’s 2026-2030 Cyber Security Strategy takes a notable step toward proper nationwide prevention of cybercrime. But does it overlook the huge demand for skilled cyber professionals in NZ?
In late February, the New Zealand government shared their latest Cyber Security Strategy. Running up to 2030, the four-year plan addresses the 62% of New Zealanders who say they want to learn more about growing cyber threats and how the government is responding to them. These concerns around cybersecurity are well-founded, with an estimated $1.6 billion lost annually to cybercrime in New Zealand.
Although this strategy is clearly an important step to building a more cyber-secure and resilient country, my view is it misses a key piece in the cybersecurity puzzle: the need for highly-skilled cybersecurity professionals.
Written by
Neil has been at Learning People in New Zealand for over 5 years working as a specialist in helping people gain the skills, certifications, and confidence they need to land their dream roles in tech and project management.
New Zealand’s Cyber Security Strategy: An Overview
With AI opening the door to more sophisticated cyber attacks in 2026, the strategy sets out four clear objectives aimed at improving cybersecurity nationwide: understand, prevent and prepare, respond and partner.
Notably, Microsoft have "applauded" this new roadmap, recently visiting Wellington alongside other private and public sector leaders, to discuss digital resilience:
“Cyber security is not just about defence against threats; it’s fundamental to innovation and economic growth. The Government’s new Cyber Security Strategy is a visionary plan that recognises no single organisation can tackle modern cyber challenges alone.
By prioritising awareness, resilience and collaboration across society, it will set New Zealand up for success as a secure and prosperous digital nation. Microsoft is proud to work alongside government, businesses and communities to help make this vision a reality.”
New Zealand’s Cyber Security Strategy: An Overview
The strategy also highlights a number of shocking cybersecurity statistics, including that 59% of New Zealand businesses experienced a cyber incident in the past 12 months, with one in six of these incidents seeing personal information accessed or stolen.
On a brighter note, the recent heightened focus on cybersecurity in New Zealand has already resulted in some positive changes. Most notably, The National Cyber Security Centre disrupted over 473.4 million malicious cyber events via malware-free networks in 2024 and 2025 - an increase of 463.1 million from the previous two years.
However, omitted from these optimistic statistics are the individuals who have made these changes happen: skilled cybersecurity professionals. Without their expertise, none of the four objectives outlined in this strategy will be achievable.
The Need for Cybersecurity Professionals
From Amazon Web Services (AWS) opening its new data centre in Auckland just last year, to the launch of this new government strategy, it’s clear that New Zealand is at the heart of an APAC cyber tech boom. These exciting technological advancements come hand-in-hand with the need for robust cybersecurity practices and talented cyber professionals.
The 91% of New Zealanders who spend much of their time online cannot do so safely without a national cyber strategy that’s governed by certified cybersecurity professionals. This is before we consider how vulnerable the NZ economy will be if the nation’s businesses don’t have secure systems and data. It’s no exaggeration to say that entering the cybersecurity workforce is tantamount to a national service in 2026.
How can we help? Our cybersecurity courses are designed to be an accessible route for those interested in pursuing a diverse and highly profitable career in cybersecurity. Book a free career consultation below to kick-start your new career in tech.
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