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'Te Mihi' geothermal power station

Current "call-ins"

Contact Energy Limited was granted consent in September 2008 to build a new geothermal power station in the Wairakei-Tauhara Geothermal Field in an area known as 'Te Mihi' near Taupo. The new power station will involve a number of associated activities including a new transmission line, a new switchyard, air discharges and discharges to land and groundwater. Consent to build the power station and for the associated activities is subject to terms and conditions, see:

Alternatively the report has been divided into 2 sections for ease of accessibility:

The Minister for the Environment called in Contact’s proposal for the power station in February 2008 and appointed an independent Board of Inquiry to consider submissions on Contact Energy’s proposal, to hold public hearings and to make a final decision.

The Board’s Chair was Judge Gordon Whiting, an Environment Judge. The other Board members were Dr Patrick Browne, Denis Nugent and Glenice Paine.

The Board of Inquiry hearing was held in Taupo on 21 July 2008 and 28 to 30 July 2008. The Board then released its  draft decision for comment on 5 August 2008 and allowed 20 working days for comment.

The final report, dated 3 September was released by the Board and copies are available above.

Now that the Board has completed its function, it has ceased to operate.  The Board’s web-pages have been withdrawn, and the contact details (email address and free-phone number) have been disestablished.

For more information or a copy of the final decision report please contact Kim Morgan on (04) 439 7447

Last updated: 16 January 2009