As debate intensifies over a proposed $3.5 billion AI data centre in Makarewa, attention is increasingly turning beyond the technology itself to a broader question: what will it take for New Zealanders to trust major AI infrastructure projects?
That question is at the heart of research being led by Dr Kerry McInerney (Ngāti Ruanui), a University of Auckland lecturer specialising in artificial intelligence whose work focuses on AI ethics, governance, social justice and public trust. Her research explores how communities view AI infrastructure and what conditions are needed for projects to earn the social licence required to operate successfully.
The discussion comes as the Green Party calls for a one-year moratorium on consenting new large-scale AI data centres, arguing New Zealand needs a national conversation and stronger regulatory safeguards before more projects proceed. The party says current planning processes do not adequately involve communities and fail to address broader questions around environmental impacts, energy use, water resources and who ultimately benefits from the developments.
The Makarewa project, proposed by Singapore-based Datagrid, has become the focal point of that debate. The hyperscale facility is expected to become New Zealand’s second-largest electricity user, requiring around 280 megawatts of power, while creating an estimated 1,200 construction jobs and around 50 permanent positions once operational. Supporters say the project could position New Zealand as a regional hub for artificial intelligence and cloud computing, while attracting significant overseas investment.
However, community concern continues to grow. Hundreds of Southlanders recently attended a public meeting seeking answers about the development, raising questions over electricity demand, groundwater use, noise, environmental impacts and whether the wider public should have had greater input before resource consent was granted. Organisers say the issue is not opposition to technology itself but a desire for greater transparency and meaningful engagement.
Dr McInerney’s research reflects a growing international discussion about the concept of social licence—the idea that major infrastructure projects require ongoing public confidence and acceptance, not simply regulatory approval. Researchers increasingly argue that trust depends on early engagement, transparency, accountability and clear evidence that communities will share in the long-term benefits rather than simply bear the environmental and infrastructure costs.
For Māori, the debate carries additional significance. Large-scale developments intersect with issues of kaitiakitanga, environmental stewardship, Treaty relationships and community decision-making. AI infrastructure raises questions not only about digital innovation but also about energy security, freshwater, whenua, data sovereignty and whether Māori voices are meaningfully included in decisions that could shape future generations.
The Makarewa proposal has become one of the country’s first major tests of how New Zealand balances ambitions to become an AI and digital infrastructure hub with public expectations around environmental responsibility, transparency and community participation.
As artificial intelligence becomes an increasingly important part of the economy, experts suggest the success of future AI projects may depend as much on public trust as technological capability.
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