New Zealand’s Regulatory and Planning Framework for Conventional Geothermal Resource Use

Abstract

In New Zealand, geothermal resources are treated as water resources, and their use is predominantly governed by broad environmental resource management legislation. Geothermal use and development projects are authorised by resource consents under the Resource Management Act by regional and district councils. Projects of this nature must also navigate a complex framework of interconnected legislation with implications at national, regional and district levels through policy documents and plans.
This paper summarises the current regulatory and planning frameworks that apply to the development and use of conventional geothermal resources in New Zealand. This review was undertaken to inform studies on the suitability of the existing planning framework for managing the potential future use of supercritical geothermal resources.