Geothermal Energy
Tukia is driven to realise the aspiration of all Maori with geothermal interests (both historical and existing legal access) to be reconnected with this taonga. This means securing an intergenerational controlling interest for kaitiakitanga and economic use. With this goal uppermost in mind, Tukia Group is the mandated commercial partner for the kaitiaki of a number of geothermal fields in Aotearoa.
Tukia is uniquely positioned to benefit the rightful owners of the taonga
Tukia Group’s geothermal team has a wealth of experience in the development and commercialisation of successful geothermal energy projects, both within New Zealand and overseas.
A key success factor is that Tukia is tikanga-driven. The majority of untapped geothermal fields in Aotearoa will require unity across Iwi, Hapu and Maori Land Trusts before development can occur. The Tukia model is exclusively about Te Hononga (Unity), and our experience from the CNI Iwi Settlement onward makes us uniquely positioned to facilitate collectivisation across geothermal resources. Initial success in Tauhara strongly bears this out, and is the basis for our attractiveness as a partner to established geothermal developers.
The cultural and spiritual connections to geothermal taonga establishes an absolute requirement to engage with Hapu and Iwi to ensure their requirements are met for future development. In addition, collectivisation is a practical necessity. The size of geothermal development (>1,000 ha) is often an order of magnitude larger than the lands of an individual land owner (~100 ha). This reality drives parties towards a collective approach to enable development and also spread risk – but this approach is very difficult for most commercial entities to sustain.
Another strength that lies with Tukia’s owners is intergenerational commitment to the taonga and the people above it. This is important, as becoming a major player is the work of decades.