Greens want pause on new AI data centres as huge Southland project looms

The Green Party wants a one-year pause on approving new AI data centres — large buildings packed with computers that store and process information — so rules can be written first. Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick says a planned $3.5 billion facility in Makarewa would use about 6% of New Zealand's electricity and over 600,000 litres of groundwater daily. Luxon called it "alarmist."