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

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…

First covered Jul 9, 2026 · 5:40 PM PT · 1 article

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18h Guardian Environment ‘A lot of red flags’: plans for New Zealand’s first datacentre spark concern as locals demand greater transparency — 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…

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Appeared in: 2026-07-10 (#15)

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

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