Traditional Use of Geothermal Resources by New Zealand Maori

Abstract

The role that geothermal energy will play in helping meet future energy requirements will certainly depend on the caprice of technological breakthroughs, hut on how well the industry associated with its exploitation adapts to the changing policy environment. Government? can influence the rate of deployment of technologies. But the role of governments in the energy sector. while still significant, is considerably reduced from what it was during the seventies and eighties. And it continues while generally declining, it is becoming more neutral with respect technology choice, "picking winners". Nowhere is this perhaps more dramatic than in the Electricity Supply Industry A set pressures is altering regulation and management of the ESI: these include. technology development gas turbines. microprocessors); changing government and international lending institutions towards public and their changing perceptions of fuel availability [especially natural gas); shifts in public attitudes towards plant location and power sector development; and new and evolving environmental concerns and associated renewed emphasis on energy efficiency. The realization that generating electricity is a natural monopoly has prompted the introduction of competition the One of the consequences of this reform. at least for the shortterm, is that electricity prices tend to decline in real terms. Finally. how governments respond to their commitments under the United Nations Convention on Climate Change could alter governments' policies affecting electricity production and It is within this context institutional, technological. political and economic -that geothermal energy's future be made.