Concerns have been raised over water consents granted to Singapore’s Datagrid for its planned AI facility in Makarewa, Southland, allowing it to draw more than 600,000 litres of groundwater a day, despite the company saying it expects to rely primarily on rainwater.
Water New Zealand engineer Evan Vaughter compared the water use to that of a small town and questioned how the demand would be met.
The centre will also become the second-largest electricity user after Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter when it opens in 2028. Invest New Zealand, has confirmed further high-energy data centres are being considered for the South Island in Twizel, Ohau, Geraldine and Cromwell. Read more at RNZ and ODT.
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Image credit: Getty Images

Quick buck now, forget about later, that’s how government operates in New Zealand. Long term planning is never a consideration, that’s n large part why the nation is such a mess.
Has Singapore’s Datagrid met the Iwi yet? they are going to love that shit.
It’s likely the iwi that sold them the land in the first place and those at the top of the ‘indigenous’ pyramid have pocketed the dosh and exited stage left
story up for a day and only 2 comments. Unfortunately not enough people understand the negative connotations of data centers and their relation to the digital prison tptb are setting up for your convenience. No wonder so many took the jab
Yip… The NZ Government Corporation really care for all you people.
All these cameras popping up everywhere and the mega data centres, all to keep you safe.
Come on people, it’s time you all got another jab!!!