Geothermal exploration for Taranaki and Waikato
The New Zealand government is funding two Māori-led geothermal exploration projects in Taranaki and Waikato to assess low-temperature resources and support regional growth and energy resilience.
The Regional Development and Resources Minister Shane Jones announced grants totaling $5.95 million for two early-stage geothermal exploration projects led by Māori entities. A $3 million grant will fund the Taranaki Geoheat Demonstrator project, which aims to drill two shallow test wells in the Matemateāonga Formation to evaluate low-temperature geothermal heat for direct-use applications. The initiative seeks to expand understanding of geothermal potential beyond traditional high-temperature zones.
A separate $2.95 million grant will support geoscience investigations and a test well at South Mangakino in Waikato, led by Wairarapa Moana ki Pouākani Incorporation. The project will explore a geothermal anomaly beneath Māori freehold land, providing data to assess resource characteristics and potential future development opportunities. Both projects are designed to inform future investment and consenting processes.
The government is also allocating a further $3 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund to develop a national geothermal database. This initiative will consolidate fragmented existing data to improve resource mapping, reduce exploration risks, and support development planning across New Zealand. The database aims to enhance energy resilience and regional growth in areas with geothermal potential.
Jones emphasized that these initiatives are part of the broader From the Ground Up geothermal strategy, which seeks to leverage New Zealand’s geothermal expertise for economic benefit. The projects reflect a focus on low-temperature resources, which could enable direct heat applications rather than traditional high-temperature electricity generation. Future development will depend on exploration findings and further investment decisions.