Greens seek one-year pause on new AI data centres as $3.5B Southland facility looms

The Green Party wants a one-year pause on consenting new AI data centres so rules can be put in place. Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick says the consented $3.5 billion Data Grid hyperscale facility in Makarewa would be New Zealand's second-largest electricity user, drawing about 6% of current national production and over 600,000 litres of groundwater daily. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon called the stance "alarmist."