Nga Wai Ariki o Rotorua Changing the Way We Manage the Rotorua Geothermal System

Abstract

The current review of the Rotorua Regional Geothermal Plan
and the development of a system management plan (SMP) for
the Rotorua Geothermal System is involving a comprehensive
process. The process so far has included reviewing and
integrating complex datasets, taking into account evolving
planning processes, providing for competing community values, and giving effect to a partnership approach under the Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti). The focus of work to date has been on building an evidence-base to inform our management approach, which has included assessing the state or health of the geothermal system and the review of the Council-owned Rotorua geothermal reservoir model. One of the main challenges has been refining a protection area around the Whakarewarewa geyser field, and in translating modelling results into meaningful predictions and allocation limits that supports the objectives of the plans. Co-design of parts of the SMP with M?ori, and wider community engagement, has been integral to the development of the SMP. These unique perspectives are reflected in the scope of the SMP, which extends beyond the traditional technical content, to include principles of management that reflect a te Ao M?ori
perspective. Protecting surface features and intergenerational customary uses, while providing for extractive uses, has required careful consideration in our long-term objectives. The identification of limits on use is one of the tools we will use to achieve these objectives. Managing community and industry expectations around increased use of geothermal within sustainable limits of the system, remains a challenge.