July 09, 2013
Owners look for steam driven development
Māori landowners have turned out in force to a Māori Geothermal symposium in Rotorua put on by GNS Science, Waiariki Institute of Technology and Te Puni Kokiri.
Keith Ikin, the polytech’s deputy chief executive, says many of the central North Island’s geothermal resource is still in Māori ownership, and hapū are keen to understand how they can develop it.
He says many are inspired by the example set by Mokai-based Tuaropaki Trust.
"They’ve moved from a focus on geothermal energy generation to now expanding across to more than 3000 hectares of pasture farming, deer, cattle, sheep farming. They have interests in dairy processing factory Miraka. They have horticulture, exporting capsicums and other products to Australia and other parts of the world." he says.
Tuaropaki is now valued at more than $600 million.
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