Geothermal Strategy
From the Ground Up: A strategy to unlock New Zealand's geothermal potential - March 2026
On this page I tēnei whārangi
View at Geothermal Valley at Te Puia in Rotorua
Image sourced from Shutterstock.com
This is the web version of the Geothermal Strategy for New Zealand.
Download the PDF:
From the Ground Up: A strategy to unlock New Zealand's geothermal potential [PDF, 1.7 MB]
In this section I tēnei wāhanga
Minister’s foreword
New Zealand has long relied on the strength of the resources beneath our feet. Geothermal energy is one of those rare national advantages — dependable, innovative and capable of powering real economic momentum.
Strategy at a glance
A focused pathway to geothermal leadership and sustainable growth.
What is geothermal and how is it important to New Zealand?
Our unique geology provides New Zealand with an extraordinary opportunity to harness a powerful and versatile natural resource with diverse applications. Stunning vistas showcasing precious geothermal surface features, combined with early innovation in energy development, laid the foundation for New Zealand’s energy profile and propelled us forward as a global leader.
Geothermal and geoheat utilisation across New Zealand
Examples of geothermal and geoheat development and innovation across the motu.
What's holding us back?
Despite its vast potential, New Zealand’s geothermal sector faces several barriers. Exploration has stagnated since the Crown’s initial drilling efforts, with high upfront costs and fragmented access to geothermal data.
What is our opportunity?
New Zealand is the fifth largest geothermal power producer globally and our expertise has shaped projects around the globe. But our unique geology offers a world-class resource with significant untapped potential.
Where we are headed
From the Ground Up sets a long-term direction for the sustainable growth of New Zealand’s geothermal sector. This section unpacks the strategy’s vision and strategic outcomes.
How we will get there
To deliver on the strategy’s vision and outcomes an action plan has been developed with five central goals. But the actions in this strategy are more than a checklist – they represent the practical steps that will turn vision into reality. This section unpacks the action plan and shows how it will deliver our vision.
Action plan
The action plan is divided into 5 goals with actions across 3 time horizons. Horizon 0 notes actions that have already been completed.
Conclusion
Successfully capitalising on this unique opportunity will require coordinated action across government, industry, tāngata whenua and research communities.