Geothermal glossary and reports
Bore - Any structure, well or hole in the ground, which is drilled or constructed. This includes bores that access underground resources (such as groundwater, geothermal water or geothermal heat) and those not accessing underground resources (such as monitoring or geotechnical bores).
Downhole Heat Exchanger - A device installed down a bore to remove heat from a geothermal field without removing geothermal fluid. Generally uses freshwater circulated through a heat exchanger at depth.
Geothermal energy - Energy derived or derivable from and produced within the earth by natural heat phenomenon; includes all geothermal water (Resource Management Act 1991).
Geothermal field/system - A discrete area where geothermal energy is known to be found and includes all areas that are hydrologically linked. It can include a body of geothermal water, material containing heat or energy surrounding the water, and all plants, animals and surface features dependant on it.
Geothermal fluid - Combined geothermal water and steam, undifferentiated proportions of either state, or a system that utilises both steam and water.
Geothermal surface feature - Includes, but is not limited to, mud pools, sinters, hot springs, hot pools, fumeroles, tomos, geysers, geothermally influenced freshwater systems, steam vents and areas of hot ground. Surface features may or may not be of natural origin, and includes extinct or intermittent features.
Geothermal water - Water heated within the earth by natural phenomenon to a temperature of 30°C or more; includes all steam, water, water vapour and every mixture of these that have been heated naturally.
Reinjection - Geothermal fluid being pumped back into the ground to the same aquifer from which it was sourced.
Water - means water in all its physical forms whether flowing or not and whether over or under the ground. It includes fresh water, coastal water, and geothermal water. It does not include water in any form while in any pipe, tank, or cistern.
Videos: The science behind the system
Rotorua system – geothermal monitoring programme
This presentation provides a summary of what geothermal monitoring the Regional Council does on the Rotorua Geothermal System, and how we use this information to help us better manage its use.
Current state of the Rotorua Geothermal System
This presentation provides an overview of what some of our key science measures are telling us about the current state of the Rotorua geothermal system.
Productive and Allocative Efficiency
Geothermal is an amazing natural phenomenon with many different values and possible uses, but its use can come at a high environmental cost if care is not taken.
This presentation discusses some of the ways we can do this.
Geothermal modelling presentation
Modelling of the Rotorua Geothermal System Listen to one of our scientists take you through some of the key geothermal modelling work undertaken for the Rotorua Geothermal System.
Reports
- 2014 Thermal Infrared Survey of the Rotorua and Lake Rotokawa-Mokoia Geothermal Fields $10
- 3-D Geological Model of Rotorua $12
- A 3-D Model of the Rotorua Geothermal Field, data inventory and data validation $12
- Assessing significant geothermal features in the Bay of Plenty region - the application and testing of Method 4 $12
- Bay of Plenty Geothermal Systems – The Science Story
- Chemistry of the Rotorua Geothermal Field Part 1: Natural Geothermal Features $15
- Chemistry of the Rotorua Geothermal Field Part 2: Discharging Wells $15
- Chemistry of the Rotorua Geothermal Field Part 3: Hydrology $15
- Desktop assessment to define SGFs in the BOP region 06 June 2020
- Development of methodology to assess significant geothermal features $12
- Geothermal Feature Resurvey of Kuirau Park and Arikikapakapa Areas, Rotorua (AVAILABLE ON CD ONLY)
- Geothermal Guidelines:
- Geothermal Plan Review: Review of Iwi and Hapū Management Plans, July 2019
- Mixing of Tikitere Geothermal Discharges with Sewage $10
- Ngā Wai Ariki o Rotorua: He Kohikohinga (2021)
- Proposed Rotorua Geothermal System Management Areas Review
- Ranking geothermal surface features in BOP April 2019
- Review of Geothermal Provisions of the Bay of Plenty Regional Water and Land Plan: Tauranga Geothermal Resource (2015)
- Review of Geothermal Provisions of the Bay of Plenty Regional Water and Land Plan: Tauranga Geothermal Resource N/C
- Rotorua Geothermal Regional Plan Review 2010
- Rotorua Geothermal Bore Water Level Assessment 2014 $12
- Rotorua Geothermal Home Heat Investigation $12
- Rotorua Geothermal System: Measurements and Observations - Quarterly reports (AVAILABLE AS HARDCOPY ONLY) $15
- Rotorua Surface Feature Monitoring Data Review 2008-2014 $15
- RMA Section 35(2)(b) Review of Geothermal Provisions of the Bay of Plenty Regional Water and Land Plan: Tauranga Geothermal Resource (2015)
- RMA Section 35(2)(b) Rotorua Geothermal Regional Plan Review 2010
- Update of the Tauranga Basin Geothermal Reservoir Model
- Geothermal Vegetation Types of the Taupo Volcanic Zone $15
- The Science Story Environmental Summary Report – Rotorua Geothermal System
- Valuing Uses of the Bay of Plenty Geothermal Resource $12
- Tauranga Geothermal System Science summary report
If you are unable to download a publication due to the file size, you can order a copy from us. An electronic copy will be free of charge. A small fee will be charged for a hard copy to cover the cost of printing.
If you would like to order an electronic version or hard copy of a publication please take note of the file reference e.g. Environmental Publication 2007/05.
You can send your request to info@boprc.govt.nz with attention to: Library, or call 0800 884 880 and ask to speak to our librarian.
Additional publications are located under the Consultant publications heading on our publications page.