{
  "project": "Datagrid Makarewa AI data-centre campus",
  "publisher": "Digital.nz Intelligence",
  "updated": "2026-08-30",
  "tracker_status": "pre-FID with horizontal works in progress",
  "location": {"addresses":["342 Flora Road East, Makarewa","370 Flora Road East, Makarewa"],"region":"Southland","country":"New Zealand","operator_stated_site_hectares":49},
  "capacity_reconciliation": [
    {"value":240,"unit":"MW","definition":"maximum consented IT capacity","source":"https://www.southlanddc.govt.nz/home-and-property/resource-consents/proposals-of-public-interest/"},
    {"value":280,"unit":"MW","definition":"operator-stated hyperscale campus capacity across three modules","source":"https://www.datagrid.nz/"},
    {"value":360,"unit":"MW","definition":"project scale stated in Mercury's NZX announcement; not treated by Digital.nz as equivalent to IT capacity","source":"https://www.nzx.com/announcements/476540"}
  ],
  "consented_scope": {"data_halls":6,"modules":3,"data_hall_footprint_hectares_approx":9.5,"gxp_substation_hectares_approx":4,"emergency_backup_generators":84,"other":["cable landing station and telecommunications infrastructure","cooling, water treatment and stormwater infrastructure","internal roads, security, logistics and support facilities","wetland removal, enhancement and creation","subsea fibre-optic cable via Oreti Beach"],"source":"https://www.southlanddc.govt.nz/home-and-property/resource-consents/proposals-of-public-interest/"},
  "consents": {"granted":"2026-03","authorities":["Southland District Council","Environment Southland","Invercargill City Council"],"public_notification":"not publicly notified; councils state statutory tests were applied and written approval obtained from identified affected parties","monitoring_documents_published":true,"conditions_review_document_date":"2026-08-05","source":"https://www.southlanddc.govt.nz/home-and-property/resource-consents/proposals-of-public-interest/"},
  "construction": {"status":"horizontal works commenced","announced":"2026-08-18","contractor":"HEB Construction","scope":["new access road to State Highway 98","existing road upgrades","earthworks","six-metre visual and noise screening bund"],"operator_target":"foundation platform for data-centre facility, cable landing station and power substation by end of 2026","note":"Target is operator-stated and not a completion guarantee","source":"https://www.datagrid.nz/pr1-rc/horizontal-works-begin-on-datagrids-ai-data-centre-campus-in-makarewa"},
  "strategic_investment": {"investor":"Mercury NZ Limited","announced":"2026-07-23","amount_usd":30000000,"amount_nzd_reported":53000000,"equity_percent":12.7,"board_change":"Mercury CEO Stew Hamilton appointed director of Datagrid NZ","source":"https://www.nzx.com/announcements/476540"},
  "power": {"counterparty":"Mercury NZ Limited","instrument":"15-year Power Purchase Option Agreement","option_capacity_mw":140,"annual_energy_twh_stated":1.2,"status":"option pathway, not described as final full-load electricity supply by source","grid_connection_rating_mva_reported":360,"grid_commissioning_target_reported":"late 2027","sources":["https://www.nzx.com/announcements/476540","https://www.datagrid.nz/pr1-rc","https://datacentresnz.com/insights/datagrid-transpower-substation"]},
  "connectivity": {"system":"Tasman Ring Network Phase 1","route":"Invercargill–Melbourne","length_km_approx":2300,"minimum_fibre_pairs":8,"minimum_design_capacity_tbps":160,"supplier":"Alcatel Submarine Networks","marine_survey_and_installation":"OMS Group","contract_announced":"2026-07-30","status":"supply and installation contract announced; not yet operating","source":"https://www.datagrid.nz/pr1-rc/tasman-ring-network-to-supercharge-south-island-connectivity-and-significantly-improve-the-resilience-of-new-zealands-internet"},
  "open_gates": [
    {"gate":"final investment decision","public_position":"expected later in 2026 in Mercury's July announcement; no later public FID announcement identified through 2026-08-30"},
    {"gate":"anchor customer contracts","public_position":"capacity and terms not established in sources reviewed through 2026-08-30"},
    {"gate":"full-load electricity supply","public_position":"140MW option covers part of published project capacity figures"},
    {"gate":"grid connection commissioning","public_position":"late-2027 target reported"},
    {"gate":"Tasman Ring commissioning","public_position":"contract announced; survey, manufacture, installation, testing and service entry remain"},
    {"gate":"vertical data-hall delivery","public_position":"horizontal works contractor announced; full vertical build evidence not established in sources reviewed"},
    {"gate":"consent compliance and social licence","public_position":"monitoring documents and conditions-review document are publicly listed"}
  ],
  "disclaimer":"This living tracker separates verified public facts, operator targets and Digital.nz interpretation. Forward-looking dates are not guarantees. It is independent market intelligence, not investment advice."
}