The Role of Geothermal Peer Review Panels in the Management of the Waikato Geothermal Resource

Abstract

The Waikato Regional Council is responsible for the sustainable management and regulation of activities within more than 70% of New Zealand’s high temperature geothermal systems. In 1992, the Waikato Regional Council introduced the concept of Geothermal Peer Review Panels to assist Council to manage the different geothermal systems under development within the Waikato Region. The operative Waikato Regional Policy Statement (2007) states that Council “will establish a peer review panel of independent experts for each system, which will advise the Council...” Further to this, Peer Review Panels are also required by the Resource Consent conditions in place on the five Waikato Geothermal Systems currently being developed; Wairakei-Tauhara, Ohaaki, Mokai, Rotokawa and Ngatamariki. With the increasing interest and demands on geothermal resources and the obligations and objectives of Council to manage these resources effectively and sustainably, the Council decided to independently review the operations and effectiveness of the Peer Review Panel processes. Bay of Plenty and Northland Regional Councils also participated in the review. Based upon brief interviews with stakeholders and other information the review concluded that the Peer Review Panels are largely effective in fulfilling the role expected of them by each Council. However, the review identified some issues concerning the peer review process generally, largely concerning the governance, management, and administration of the process. This paper outlines the rationale for Peer Review Panels (PRPs), reports on the findings of the independent review and identifies the subsequent actions undertaken by Waikato Regional Council in response to the review.