Future Energy and data centres

Information published on the Whanganui & Partners website on 1 March 2026 referred to Future Energy and identified a case study for data centres as a potential investment opportunity for Whanganui. 

Here are the key facts about why this case study and case studies for other industries are on the website.  

Has the council decided to develop or fund a data centre?

No. The council has not made a decision to develop or fund a data centre.  
 
The information published on 1 March 2026 by Whanganui and Partners identified data centres as one of a number of potential investment opportunities for private investment. It was not an announcement of a council project or a development proposal.  

What even is a data centre?

Data centres store and process digital information and can range from small facilities to very large operations. Their potential impacts – including electricity and water use, effects on the awa, noise, infrastructure and the environment – depend on their size, design and location. Ultimately, any proposal and its effects would be assessed through the same planning and consenting processes as any other project or industry. 

Where did the Future Energy work come from? 

Future Energy is part of Whanganui and Partners' current work programme. Its purpose is to explore how the district’s renewable energy potential could support new private investment. Elected members have been previously briefed on the Future Energy opportunities in our district.

Whanganui is becoming a recognised location for renewable energy.  Whanganui has potential to host significant renewable generation, including onshore wind and solar and, in the medium term, potentially offshore wind. More than $2 billion of renewable energy projects have been signalled for the wider region. 

As part of this work, the team considered the types of energy-intensive industries that could locate close to new generation and help support the viability of those projects. These included synthetic fuel production, data centres and large-scale processing industries with high electricity needs. 

This is exploratory investment-attraction activity rather than a commitment to any development. No data centre proposal has been put to the council, and neither the programme nor the specific opportunities identified through it have been formally considered or endorsed by elected members. 

Why was the data centre information on the website?

The information was placed on the website as a case study, alongside other case studies covering opportunities such as synthetic fuel production and wind and solar development. Ultimately, a private company decides whether it wants to invest in Whanganui, and the council cannot prevent a proposal simply because it has not initiated it. The council’s role is to engage early and help ensure any proposal is developed in a way that is right for Whanganui, aligns with the district’s direction and community expectations, and contributes to economic development and wider community outcomes.

Why has the data centre information been removed from the website?

The material did not provide enough context about the status of any potential investment and could be taken to imply a confirmed council position. That is not the case, so the material has been temporarily removed while the council brings the full background together and ensures any future information is clear about what is being worked on and why. 

What work has the council been involved in?  

Whanganui is becoming a recognised location for renewable energy.  The role of Whanganui and Partners is to look for opportunities that will materially drive our economy forward, seek investment to support growth, and partner with the people and organisations doing the work on the ground. Renewable energy is one of those opportunities, with a number of projects underway within and close to Whanganui including the Waiinu Energy Project near Waitotara and Harakeke private plan change and energy project. 

While the council needs to be open about the work it is doing, it also needs to respect legitimate commercial confidence. Getting that balance right matters if we want businesses considering other low-risk opportunities that would benefit the district to feel confident engaging with us. 

Is the council continuing with the Future Energy work?

Yes, although it should be noted that the forward work programme is under review at the moment and is referred to below as the review of economic development. The outcomes of the review will help set the forward work programme.

What is the economic development review looking at?

The council is reviewing its economic development strategy through a review of its economic development and tourism activities. The terms of reference for this review were adopted on 6 August 2026 and can be found here. 

The purpose of the review is to clarify why council invests in economic development, what the outcomes are that the council wants from its economic development activity, how success will be measured, and what the investment priorities are.

What about renewable energy projects already proposed around Whanganui?

These are separate from the data centre case study information.  

Private developers are progressing renewable energy proposals in the wider region, including the Waiinu Energy Project near Waitōtara, which proposes wind generation, solar generation and battery storage. Waiinu has been referred into the government’s Fast-track process. It is not a council project and is not connected to the published case study 

What happens now?

We are working to ensure that our online material is accurate and provides a good picture of what the council has committed to and what it hasn’t.   
 
This is important as it will ensure the distinction between ideas, investment opportunities, private development proposals and council decisions is clear.  
 
The Future Energy work will also be considered through the council’s wider economic development review. Further information will be added to this page as that work is completed.