Ngāti Ruanui Scholar Leads Research into Community Trust and AI Infrastructure

A prominent Māori scholar is leading the conversation on how Aotearoa can build meaningful trust between large-scale technology projects and the communities they inhabit. Dr Kerry McInerney (Ngāti Ruanui), a lecturer at the University of Auckland, is conducting research focused on AI ethics, governance, and the social licence required for infrastructure developments. The research comes as a proposed $3.5 billion AI data centre in Makarewa, Southland, sparks national debate over the environmental and social impacts of such facilities. The project, led by Singapore-based company Datagrid, is expected to create 1,200 construction jobs and 50 permanent roles, but it has also raised questions regarding energy security and water resources. Dr McInerney’s work explores the conditions necessary for these projects to earn public confidence beyond simple regulatory approval. According to reporting by Waatea News on 27 July 2026, the discussion highlights the importance of early engagement and transparency. For Māori communities, these developments intersect with critical issues of kaitiakitanga (environmental stewardship), whenua, and data sovereignty. Dr McInerney’s research examines how communities view this infrastructure and what accountability measures are needed to ensure local residents share in the long-term benefits. The debate has gained political traction, with calls for a one-year moratorium on new large-scale consenting to allow for a national conversation. Supporters of the Makarewa facility believe it could establish New Zealand as a regional hub for cloud computing. However, Dr McInerney’s focus remains on the human element, ensuring that technological progress does not bypass the voices of the people most affected by the physical infrastructure of the digital age.