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Climate: Featured Story
Coverage from Global Renewable News, Energy Global, and others
Māori-Led Projects Get $5.95m for Geothermal Exploration
New Zealand’s Regional Infrastructure Fund is providing $5.95 million for Māori-led geothermal exploration in Taranaki and South Waikato. The projects will use shallow test wells and geoscience investigations to assess resources, including potential low-temperature heat uses; a separate $3 million allocation will support a national geothermal database. Any development will depend on exploration results, further investment, and consenting.
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RNZ lays out the two project grants, what each exploration will test, and why development remains contingent on results, investment, and consent.
Funding and exploration plans have been announced, but the resource potential and any future development remain unconfirmed and depend on exploration results, further investment, and consent.
Parininihi ki Waitōtara Incorporation is to receive $3 million for two shallow test wells in Taranaki’s Matemateāonga Formation, assessing low-temperature geothermal heat and possible direct uses.
Wairarapa Moana ki Pouākani Incorporation is to receive $2.95 million for geoscience investigations and a test well at South Mangakino, exploring a geothermal anomaly beneath Māori freehold land.
A further $3 million has been set aside for a national geothermal database intended to bring fragmented resource data together. The coverage says any development from the exploration will depend on findings, additional investment, and consenting.