TRACKING   Edition: New Zealand · Sister publication of Certified Strategic
TRACKING Sister publication of Certified Strategic
NZ AI Infrastructure Index

New Zealand · Data centre & AI infrastructure

Independent coverage of New Zealand’s data centres and AI infrastructure

Source-linked data on the operators, power deals and builds behind New Zealand’s next infrastructure market.

Register interest Every figure links to its source. Not affiliated with any agency or operator.
The headline numbers
154MW colocation capacity across 35 facilities
30 data centre grid connection enquiries
280MW consented at Makarewa, with a 1GW ambition
At July 2026. Full sourcing below.
All insights
Datagrid says Makarewa will need fewer than 34 of 84 generators
LatestOperator Updates

Datagrid says Makarewa will need fewer than 34 of 84 generators

Datagrid says its Southland data centre will need fewer than 34 of the 84 diesel generators its approvals allow, and under 66 million litres of water a year, mostly rainwater.

Published 22 August 2026 · NZ AI Infrastructure Index Read the analysis

The market, at July 2026

Source-linked. Read the full analysis
154MW colocation capacity across 35 facilities Arizton, Apr 2026
30 data centre grid connection enquiries Transpower, Jul 2026
280MW consented at Makarewa, with a 1GW ambition Datagrid consent, Mar 2026
85.5% renewable electricity in 2024 MBIE, 2025
2 hyperscale cloud regions: Microsoft (Dec 2024) and AWS (Sep 2025) Microsoft · AWS
9 facilities upcoming, on top of the 35 operating Arizton, Apr 2026

What the index will cover

01
Operator directory
who owns and runs New Zealand’s data centres, with capacity where disclosed
02
Power deals tracker
every disclosed agreement between operators and generators, by instrument
03
GPU cloud coverage
what AI compute is available in New Zealand, and what is not
04
What to watch
the catalysts that decide whether consented projects become built ones
05
New Zealand and Australia, side by side
What we’re watching

Three catalysts decide how fast this market moves.

1

Datagrid financial close: the 280MW campus is consented, and none of the reported NZ$3.4bn to NZ$5.1bn build cost is announced as raised

source
2

The Tasman Ring subsea cable: MBIE calls it essential to the Southland build and expected it in 2027; Chorus withdrew citing a realistic in-service date past 2030

source
3

Mercury’s 140MW option over the Makarewa campus: it converts to firm supply, or it lapses

source
Read the full analysis

Register interest

Be first to the briefing

The index launches with an operator directory, a power deals tracker and GPU cloud coverage. Leave your email and you’ll get the first briefing when it goes live.

Founding sponsors

A small number of founding sponsors will support the index at launch.

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