The History of Tuaropaki Te Hītori o Tūaropaki

Tūaropaki to be the developer of the Mōkai Geothermal field

At the AGM, the Owners of the Trust at the time passed a resolution of support for the Trust to be the developer of the Mōkai Geothermal field. Crown exploration had proven the viability of the resource but through the tenacity of our elders, the Trust fought for and upheld our right to develop our taonga ourselves.

Advisory Committee Formation

An advisory committee is set up under the chairmanship of Hoani Wereta. Its purpose is to work closely with the Department of Māori Affairs land development staff.

This committee lays the groundwork for future cooperative management efforts.

Land Amalgamation

279 whānau chose to amalgamate their traditional whenua to form the Tūaropaki land block. They believed that if they worked together, they could convert the whenua to provide opportunities for our whānau.

The Tūaropaki Development Scheme loan is approved, marking the beginning of a new era in land management.

Sole Management Transfer

The Owners applied to the Māori Land Court to approve the first Trust Order and appoint the inaugural Responsible Trustees and Advisory Trustees. A thriving dry stock and later dairy farm was established, which laid the foundation for the Trust’s operations. Following repayment in 1975 of the loan from the Department of Māori Affairs.

Diversification into Dairy Farming

Tūaropaki Trust diversifies from dry stock farming and introduces a large-scale dairy unit on its lands. This move marks the beginning of a more varied agricultural strategy.

Establishment of Tuaropaki Power Company

After successfully opposing the Crown’s attempts to develop the field, the Trust established Tūaropaki Power Company Limited and obtained resource consents to build and operate a geothermal power plant. Direct negotiations in 1996 led to Tūaropaki purchasing the Crown’s interests in the wells that had been drilled on our whenua without the Owner’s agreement 14 years earlier.

Construction of Mokai I Geothermal Power Station

Construction of the power station at Mōkai began, and in 2000, the Tūaropaki Power Company began operating – the first 100% indigenous-owned power company in the world.

Completion of Mokai I

The ‘Mokai I’ 55 MWe geothermal power plant is completed and commissioned. This 100% Tūaropaki-owned facility marks a major achievement in the Trust’s energy ventures.

Establishment of Gourmet Mokai

Tūaropaki and its JV partners build a 5.5 ha state-of-the-art geothermally heated glasshouse at Mōkai and establish the produce company Gourmet Mōkai.

The decision is made to build a second geothermal power plant.

Telecommunications Sector Entry

Mighty River Power acquires a 25% shareholding in Tūaropaki Power Company.

Expansion of Gourmet Mokai

Gourmet Mōkai builds an additional 6.2 ha geothermally-heated glasshouse. Tūaropaki also invests in Vinoptima Estate winery and NZ Communications, the latter becoming 2Degrees Mobile, showcasing the Trust’s broadening business ventures.

Power Station Capacity Increase

A power generating unit is added to the power station increasing its capacity to 113 MWe.

Tūaropaki acquires the neighbouring Pukemoremore lands (1,200 ha) from Contact Energy – formerly known as Electricorp, which purchased the land in 1988.

Geothermally-Powered Dairy Processing

Tūaropaki and JV partners build a state-of-the-art geothermally-heated and powered milk powder processing factory at Mōkai. This innovation is the first of its kind, marking a significant milestone in sustainable dairy production.

Acquisition of MB Century

Tūaropaki buys MB Century, New Zealand’s leading total solution energy service provider.

Experts in steam field design, MB Century specialises in drilling services, energy research and development and geothermal and hydro station maintenance in New Zealand and overseas.

Establishment of Halcyon Power

Tūaropaki enters into a hydrogen joint venture pilot project with Obayashi Corporation of Japan and establishes Halcyon Power.

Halcyon will pilot the production of carbon free hydrogen using renewable geothermal energy.

Hydrogen is seen as a renewable form of green energy to help meet the world’s future energy needs.

40th Anniversary Celebration

Tūaropaki celebrates 40 years since taking on sole responsibility for the management of the land and farming operations.

Miraka’s 10th Anniversary

Miraka celebrates 10 years in operation. Since building the Mōkai factory in 2010 Miraka has diversified into producing a range of dairy products including Frozen Milk Concentrate, Ultra Heat-Treated milk and A2 beta-casein milk powder for export.

The company is one of the world’s most sustainable dairy producers with a low carbon footprint and a world-class farming excellence programme.

Halcyon Power’s Milestone

Tūaropaki’s 50/50 venture with Japan’s Obayashi Corporation completes post-commissioning tests and begins producing ‘green’ hydrogen – using geothermal energy to electrolyse hydrogen from water.

The project, which officially opens in December, also works with collaborators on technical innovations and the early adoption of technology to encourage the development of a hydrogen supply chain in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Regional Wānanga

For the first time in its history, Tūaropaki Trust stages five regional Wānanga around the country.

The Wānanga are to encourage discussion on the Trust’s governing rules, during a Trust Order revision consultation phase. The final one in Taupō includes the opportunity for Owners and Uri to tour the whenua, visiting the sheep and beef station, dairy farm, Ngaire George Sustainability Centre, Tūaropaki Power Station and Halcyon hydrogen plant.