Geothermal Fact Sheet

New Zealand’s location along the ‘Pacific Ring of Fire’ means it has an excellent geothermal resource, some of which can be used as clean, reliable and renewable energy. New Zealand has been using its geothermal resource to generate electricity since the 1900s with the first production occurring at the Spa Hotel in Taupo in 1906.
New Zealand’s first geothermal power station, the Wairakei power station, was commissioned in 1958. It was the first geothermal power station in the world to produce electricity commercially and was a forerunner for this type of development internationally.
Today, geothermal energy is used in New Zealand in a number of ways. These range from electricity generation, industrial process heat and domestic heating, to horticultural activities,
aquacultural activities and spa bathing.
Geothermal energy is a proven resource for these purposes, and is helping to meet New Zealand’s growing energy demands.With concern over global climate change, New Zealand needs to move away from its reliance on fossil fuels and make greater use of renewable energy resources, such as geothermal.
This is particularly important if New Zealand is to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to enable it to meet its international climate change obligations under the Kyoto Protocol. Utilising New Zealand’s geothermal resource in a sustainable way will help New Zealand achieve this.