‘A lot of red flags’: plans for New Zealand’s first datacentre spark concern as locals demand greater transparency

Singapore-based Datagrid has secured approval to build a NZ$3.5bn AI datacentre in Makarewa, New Zealand, sparking local concerns about electricity and water use, and noise pollution. Residents are demanding greater transparency from the company as construction is set to begin this year.

‘A lot of red flags’: plans for New Zealand’s first datacentre spark concern as locals demand greater transparency The Guardian Technology https://www.theguardian.com/us/technology Plans to build a NZ$3.5bn datacentre in Makarewa in the country’s south has drawn concern about electricity and water use, and potential noise pollution People living near the site of New Zealand’s first planned AI datacentre are calling for more transparency about the project, especially about how the centre’s huge electricity and water use and potential noise pollution could affect them. Singapore-based company Datagrid has secured approval to build a NZ$3.5bn US$2bn AI datacentre on a 49-hectare site in Makarewa, just north of New Zealand’s southern-most city, Invercargill. Construction is due to begin this year, with the centre becoming operational by 2028. Continue reading... Plans to build a NZ$3.5bn datacentre in Makarewa in the country’s south has drawn concern about electricity and water use, and potential noise pollution People living near the site of New Zealand’s first planned AI datacentre are calling for more transparency about the project, especially about how the centre’s huge electricity and water use and potential noise pollution could affect them. Singapore-based company Datagrid has secured approval to build a NZ$3.5bn US$2bn AI datacentre on a 49-hectare site in Makarewa, just north of New Zealand’s southern-most city, Invercargill. Construction is due to begin this year, with the centre becoming operational by 2028. Continue reading... https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jul/10/new-zealand-first-datacentre-concern-locals-makarewa-invercargill-datagrid Get AI news in your inbox Daily digest of what matters in AI.