Whenuapai Mātai Data Centre Naming
Marcus made this Official Information request to Government Communications Security Bureau
The request was refused by Government Communications Security Bureau.
From: Marcus
Dear Government Communications Security Bureau,
I was having a browse through the proactively released "Briefing to the Incoming Minister 2023" (https://www.gcsb.govt.nz/assets/GCSB-Pro...) and noted the S6(a) redactions regarding the then-under construction Whenuapai data centre.
Given that the data centre is now active with the name Mātai (as mentioned in the GCSB's news release from June 27, 2025), was Mātai the redacted name or was there a working name/codename for the data centre that can now be released?
Yours faithfully,
Marcus
From: Information (GCSB)
Government Communications Security Bureau
Tēnā koe Marcus,
Thank you for your Official Information Act request.
We will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible and, in
any event, no later than 20 working days after the day that your request
was received. If we are unable to respond to your request by then, we will
notify you of an extension of that timeframe.
If you have any queries, please feel free to contact
[1][GCSB request email].
Ngā mihi,
GCSB
show quoted sections
From: Information (GCSB)
Government Communications Security Bureau
Tçnâ koe Marcus,
Before we begin processing your request, we require more information to
establish your eligibility to make a request under the Official
Information Act 1982 (OIA).
Per Section 12 of the OIA, to be eligible to make a request you must be:
• A New Zealand citizen or permanent resident;
• A person in New Zealand; or
• A corporate entity (that is, a company or an incorporated
society) which is either incorporated in New Zealand or has a place of
business here.
Please send information that confirms your eligibility to make an OIA
request to [GCSB request email]. This could be a scanned copy of a New
Zealand driver’s licence or passport or evidence of residency in New
Zealand, such as a utility bill with your name/address. If you are not
able to provide any of the above, please contact us to discuss further
options for providing proof of eligibility to make a request.
Ngâ mihi,
GCSB
show quoted sections
From: Information (GCSB)
Government Communications Security Bureau
Kia ora Marcus,
Please find attached a response to your Official Information Act request.
Ngā mihi
GCSB
show quoted sections
Things to do with this request
- Add an annotation (to help the requester or others)
- Download a zip file of all correspondence (note: this contains the same information already available above).

Marcus left an annotation ()
For anyone following along, not that it's strictly required (and I could probably contest it) but I've provided proof of citizenship via direct email so this OIA is still progressing
Link to this