New Zealand-owned operator Data Vault plans to develop a 3-megawatt (MW) data center on Auckland’s North Shore, with 11 connectivity and service partners confirmed ahead of its planned opening in the second half of 2027. The project will add another location to the company’s Auckland footprint as demand grows for colocation, cloud access and network infrastructure. Data Vault has already acquired the building and expects fit-out work to begin in 2027, bringing capacity online in stages as customers require it. The development also forms part of a wider expansion strategy targeting approximately 6MW of additional capacity across Auckland, Hamilton and Wellington over the coming years.

Auckland Expansion Targets 6MW of Additional Capacity

Data Vault has identified 5.3MW of additional capacity across four projects, combining the proposed North Shore facility with expansions at existing sites. The programme includes another 1MW at its Grafton data center in Auckland, 1MW at its Te Rapa facility in Hamilton and approximately 300 kilowatts (kW) in Wellington. The company continues to assess further opportunities to reach its broader 6MW target. This pipeline reflects a strategy built around expanding within established markets rather than relying on a single large development.

Grafton’s growth provides an indication of the demand supporting the investment programme. Data Vault said Data Hall 3 has reached full contractual commitment, while Data Hall 4, backed by an international anchor tenant, should become operational in the first quarter of 2027. The company expects Data Hall 5 to follow in the third quarter of that year. Together, these milestones point to a phased capacity strategy that links new investment to customer commitments and expected demand. “We’ve seen significant demand from network operators, cloud providers and international technology companies looking for high-quality colocation in New Zealand,” said Peter White, general manager at Data Vault. “The North Shore development is the next logical step. We’ve secured the building and expect to start bringing capacity online next year, giving our customers another Auckland location and greater geographic diversity.”

Connectivity Partnerships Shape North Shore Offering

Data Vault will launch the North Shore facility with Eon Fibre, Devoli, EdgeIX, Verge Infrastructure, WaveSquared, Vetta Group, and more. The operator expects to announce additional partners before opening, broadening the services available to customers from the outset. The partners will provide access to fibre networks, internet services, internet exchanges, cloud connectivity and other network solutions. Data Vault will retain a carrier-neutral model, allowing customers to select providers according to their technical and commercial requirements.

“We’re not building a facility and then hoping the network providers turn up,” White said. “We’ve already confirmed 11 launch partners, with more to come. Customers will have access to a wide range of services and providers from day one.” The company’s existing network ecosystem offers a foundation for this approach. Data Vault said Grafton is approaching 70 autonomous system numbers (ASNs), while customers can access internet exchanges including EdgeIX, NZIX and MegaIX. Its website lists more than 50 network providers at its existing Auckland facility, alongside carrier-neutral colocation and connections to major networking and peering services.

National Footprint Extends Across Three Markets

Data Vault has operated in New Zealand since 2004, with facilities in Auckland and Hamilton. In 2025, it announced an operations and management agreement with service provider Vital to extend its presence into Wellington. The arrangement aimed to bring the Wellington facility into Data Vault’s operating network, with modernisation planned to align the site with the company’s existing standards. The North Shore development adds another Auckland location as the operator builds its presence across the country’s three major data center markets.

Data Vault plans to incorporate modern cooling systems, aisle containment and efficient power infrastructure across its expansion programme. These measures aim to increase the share of available electricity that customer IT equipment can use, making facility design an important consideration as power requirements rise. The company already operates rooftop solar installations at its Grafton and Hamilton facilities and plans further installations, including at North Shore. Its website reports a power usage effectiveness (PUE) of 1.14 for existing operations, although Data Vault has not disclosed a target PUE for the new facility. “Power efficiency is becoming increasingly important for our customers,” White said. “We’re investing in modern cooling technology and better facility design to maximise the amount of power available for customer IT equipment.”

Mid-Density Colocation Remains Core to Strategy

While hyperscale campuses and AI infrastructure dominate much of the industry’s attention, Data Vault sees continued demand for mid-density colocation from network operators, cloud providers, managed service providers and enterprises. The company is positioning its facilities around reliable connectivity and flexible capacity rather than competing primarily on scale. “There’s a significant market for reliable, well-connected mid-density rack space, and that’s where we see a real opportunity,” White said. “We want to provide flexible infrastructure that works for customers of all sizes, whether they need a single rack or a larger dedicated environment.”

The operator is also nearing completion of a SOC 2 readiness programme, which includes plans for enhanced physical security, monitoring, operational procedures and governance controls across its facilities. The programme is intended to support progression towards independent SOC 2 attestation, strengthening the operational framework that underpins its expansion. “We’re not trying to be the biggest data center operator in New Zealand,” White said. “Our focus is on building highly connected, efficient and reliable facilities, providing good service and making sure we have capacity available as our customers grow.”