A delegation from Aotearoa New Zealand travelled to the first Indigenous Geothermal Symposium in October 2024 to share experiences and learnings about geothermal development, and to support the development of a Geothermal Indigenous People’s Declaration.
At this symposium (held as part of the 2024 Geothermal Rising conference in Hawaii), indigenous and community members from around the globe came together. The goal was to provide a space to discuss geothermal resources, opportunities, issues and how communities can work with industry and governments to develop geothermal resources to benefit indigenous peoples.
In the session showcasing the Aotearoa New Zealand Story, presentations included:
Mason Jackson (Mitchell Daysh Ltd) summarised New Zealand’s geothermal story from a Māori perspective, traversing cultural aspects, impacts of colonisation, Treaty and Māori Land Court processes, history of electricity development and associated cultural damage caused by early geothermal development. Mason then described New Zealand’s current resource management legislative and consenting frameworks, Māori participation in geothermal resource management and developments, and future opportunities and constraints.
Aroha Campbell (QSM, Hau Rakau Limited, Upflow) provided a Wahine Māori (Māori woman) view of the future of geothermal resource management in New Zealand, and in particular, Māori’s integral role in that future. This included the Geothermal: The Next Generation programme for harnessing “super-critical” geothermal resources, and the next Māori-led geothermal development plans on the Taheke Geothermal Field.
Corey Rehua (Te Arawa Lakes Trust) showcased the Waiwhatu/Arawhata Project which aims to source appropriate geothermal words and terms to be used in Te Reo Māori (māori language). Corey provided an overview of the project and discussed next steps for the future of normalising indigenous language within geothermal science.
Aroha Campbell (QSM, Hau Rakau Limited, Upflow) provided a real-life example of how, despite the struggles by Māori to “hold fast” to their customary land and precious geothermal resources, there are now Māori groups regaining control of their own destiny and successfully using their land and its underlying geothermal resources to thrive economically, socially and culturally. Aroha told this story to inspire further indigenous geothermal successes.
The New Zealand participants also heard about experiences with geothermal resources development from other Indigenous Peoples, including learnings from participants from Taiwan, Kenya, Canada, Mainland US and Hawaii.
During a session at the symposium, participants were invited to engage in facilitated, in-depth group discussions, led by Native Hawaiian Cultural Advisors, that focused on personal experiences, observations, overcoming challenges, lessons learned and new opportunities. The outcome from this session was a draft of a Geothermal Indigenous People’s Declaration, which was presented to at the end of the symposium.
Participants found common purpose in the need to advocate for the protection of indigenous rights, lands, social equity, cultural integrity, inclusivity, full and effective participation, and shared prosperity of Indigenous geothermal peoples. Six priorities of collective concern were collaboratively identified, and the Declaration calls for support from the wider geothermal community to help address these concerns.
We’ll share the Declaration here once it is it finalised.
