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.
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From the Ground Up – a strategy to unlock New Zealand’s geothermal potential reflects the feedback the Government received on the draft and sharpens our focus on what matters: accelerating development, improving investment confidence and ensuring regulatory settings support progress rather than curtail it. Across the wider Resources portfolio we are already seeing stronger investment pipelines and faster approvals, a sign of renewed confidence in this valuable sector.
The action plan emphasises practical delivery and aligns the strategy with the Government’s broader economic direction — driving regional prosperity, enabling infrastructure and getting New Zealand’s engines of growth cranking.
Geothermal is bigger than just electricity generation. This strategy lays out a pathway for expanding industrial heat use, supporting new technology trials and opening the door to emerging opportunities such as next-generation geothermal systems and deeper exploration. These developments can reduce energy costs for businesses, boost productivity and support year-round energy resilience.
Regional development and prosperity are core priorities for this Government, and geothermal is a natural fit. Harnessing our geothermal advantage can boost jobs, investment, industrial expansion and tourism in regional New Zealand. This strategy strengthens those opportunities by improving access to data, reducing early-stage risk for developers and encouraging growth hubs that align local demand with proven heat and power resources.
This strategy sets out a clear and achievable pathway to double geothermal energy use by 2040, modernise outdated regulatory settings and build the scientific and technical capability necessary for long-term growth.
New Zealand has the chance to lead the world in how we use geothermal energy, supporting a resilient, modern and productive economy. With this strategy in place, we are backing that potential and setting the conditions for continued investment, innovation and regional success.
Hon Shane Jones
Minister for Resources