As artificial intelligence continues to transform industries across the globe, Māori experts are urging greater scrutiny of the environmental footprint behind the technology.
Professor Te Taka Keegan, from the University of Waikato’s AI Institute, says the growth of AI is often discussed in terms of innovation and economic opportunity, but the substantial environmental costs are frequently overlooked.
Large-scale AI systems rely on vast networks of data centres that consume significant amounts of electricity, water, land, and raw materials. The rapid development of hyperscale data centres has sparked growing concern internationally about pressure on freshwater resources, ecosystem disruption, and the extraction of critical minerals needed to support digital infrastructure.
For Māori, these impacts extend beyond environmental management and touch on deeply held cultural responsibilities of kaitiakitanga — the obligation to protect and care for te taiao for future generations.
Professor Keegan says Māori perspectives emphasise the interconnected relationship between people and the environment, raising important questions about whether current AI development models are sustainable or consistent with long-term stewardship values.
Particular concern has been raised about the potential effects of hyperscale data centres on freshwater resources and culturally significant sites. As demand for AI computing power grows, water-intensive cooling systems are becoming a critical issue in regions where water supplies are already under pressure.
There are also concerns that large infrastructure projects could affect wāhi tapu and other culturally significant landscapes if Māori communities are not meaningfully involved in planning and decision-making processes.
Professor Keegan argues that Māori data governance principles provide a framework for ensuring AI development supports collective wellbeing rather than purely commercial interests. These principles emphasise community benefit, accountability, transparency, and the protection of cultural values across generations.
He says AI policy in Aotearoa must move beyond consultation and towards genuine partnership, with Māori communities actively involved in shaping decisions about where infrastructure is located, how resources are used, and how emerging technologies align with environmental and social responsibilities.
As New Zealand considers its future role in the global AI economy, Māori researchers are calling for stronger safeguards to ensure technological advancement does not come at the expense of freshwater resources, cultural heritage, or the wellbeing of future generations.
