GeoShot NZ

Pānui #2 - April 2026

Nau mai, haere mai

Welcome to the second edition of our pānui (newsletter). From a new project name and a few new faces around the table, there’s plenty happening beneath the surface. Drill a little deeper below! 

Say hello to GeoShot NZ!

We’ve landed on a name for our superhot geothermal project – GeoShot NZ. 

A formal name assists international recognition and alignment with the superhot geothermal sector. We feel ‘GeoShot NZ’ characterises the opportunity, ambition, and innovation of our project, and establishes it as a New Zealand (NZ) initiative.  

So, the next time you are referring to the New Zealand project, it’s super critical (sorry) to use the name, GeoShot NZ. 

New Zealand has long been a global pioneer in geothermal energy. However, the path to a net-zero future requires us to look deeper and reach further. By targeting supercritical (or superhot, as we sometimes call them) geothermal resources, New Zealand is not just seeking incremental progress but also opening a frontier for the geosciences. Tapping into fluids at temperatures exceeding 400°C offers the potential for a tenfold increase in energy density compared to conventional wells. 

Our panel has witnessed the technical rigor and the collaborative spirit driving this program. The program bridges the gap between world-class scientific research and practical, industrial application. By integrating cutting-edge geoscience, advanced materials science, drilling engineering and indigenous Mātauranga Māori perspectives, GeoShot NZ ensures that the transition to clean energy is both scientifically revolutionary and culturally grounded. 

The journey ahead is complex, but the rewards could be transformative: a resilient, carbon-free baseload power source that would secure New Zealand’s energy independence for generations. Let us proceed with rigor, but also with curiosity and courage. 

Prof. Roland Horne
Chair, International Review Panel 

Lake Rotokawa Credit: Roy Taoho, Tauhara North No.2 Trust 

Project update 

GeoShot NZ is making solid progress toward drilling New Zealand’s first superhot geothermal well. In recent months, the project has moved from setup into detailed technical design. This is an important stage for a first-of-its-kind well. Decisions made now will affect safety, performance, and the value of the research long into the future. 

World-class design and review 

The well is being designed by an experienced New Zealand and international team. The design is also being independently reviewed by experts from the United States and Iceland, both global leaders in high temperature geothermal drilling. Their role is to question assumptions, test the design, and make sure it meets international best practice for working in extreme heat and pressure.  This international input is a major strength. It allows New Zealand to draw on decades of overseas experience while also contributing new knowledge to global geothermal research. 

Progress so far 

So far, the project has: 

• Set up governance and partnerships with the Rotokawa Joint Venture 
• Confirmed the well location 
• Built detailed underground models 
• Advanced the well design and drilling approach 
• Engaged expert peer reviewers 
• Identified the lead drilling contractor 

What's next

Over the next quarter, the focus will be on finalising the design, planning equipment procurement, and preparing the site and environmental plans. 

Drilling is planned for next year, subject to final approvals. This will be a major milestone for New Zealand’s clean energy future and for global geothermal science and technology. 

Big Ben at the Rotokawa geothermal field Credit: Mercury NZ 

Preferred lead contractor named

A key GeoShot NZ milestone has been met with renowned Kiwi company Todd Energy selected as the preferred lead contractor to drill New Zealand’s first exploratory superdeep, superhot geothermal well.

Their Big Ben rig and proven expertise take us a step closer to unlocking next generation geothermal energy.

Superhot geothermal could contribute to our energy security Credit: Shutterstock 

Superhot geothermal power supports energy security 

Superhot geothermal power has extraordinary potential to cut emissions, accelerate economic development, and complement New Zealand’s other strengths in renewables with its ability to provide baseload power without relying on the sun shining or the wind blowing.  

Governance Group Chair Tim Groser says the current Middle East conflict and fuel security situation is highlighting superhot geothermal’s potential to contribute to future energy security. 

“Homegrown renewables are undoubtedly a hugely important part of the solution to our reliance on imported energy like coal, imported natural gas, and oil or petroleum. 

“Those of us strongly advocating this concerted drive into superhot geothermal energy have focussed on its significant economic development and climate change contributions. But the current situation focusses our attention on a third, additional advantage: de-risking our dependence on imported energy. 

“The more we can be self-sufficient in energy, the greater the security we can create for future generations. Here, we have the potential of vast additional indigenous energy resources literally beneath our feet,” he says. 

Images: Waiwhatu-Arawhata project, Upflow

Geothermal kupu (words)

We’ve discovered our partners are doing all sorts of interesting things besides GeoShot NZ! 

Kaitiaki (trustee or guardian) consultant Aroha Campbell at our partner organisation Upflow led
the Waiwhatu-Arawhata project – a communications toolkit that has created a shared language for talking about geothermal activity, environments, and concepts in New Zealand’s te reo Māori (Māori language).  

The project melds Mātauranga Māori (indigenous knowledge) and western science – a great example of collaboration, respect and innovation. 

Mercury’s Robert Rankin ‘on set’ with MBIE video producer Gareth Ruck at Rotokawa
Credit: Kānoa  

Lights. Camera. Thermal extraction!

We have produced a short video about the GeoShot NZ project. It was produced largely for non-technical or sector audiences wanting a short introduction to our project, and why New Zealand is well placed for it. The story is told by key partners who briefly outline what superhot geothermal is, why Rotokawa was chosen for the first well site, and some of the potential challenges and advantages of superhot geothermal energy.

Meet the team 

Ralph Winmill of GeoDE Well Engineering Ltd is GeoShot NZ’s geothermal Well and Drilling Engineering Lead. He’s worked as a geothermal drilling engineer for more than 30 years. Here he outlines some of the reasons he’s passionate about this project. 

The Art of Engineering 

I’ve spent my career building wells in some of the toughest conditions you can imagine. When this superhot geothermal project came across my desk, I knew it was different and that it was the culmination of my life’s work. I got shoulder tapped a few months before we started, and once I jumped in, I was all in. This isn’t just another well. This is pushing into new territory and has significant international interest. 

Engineers plan. We model. We design for what we know. But geothermal always has unknowns. You are dealing with things that are kilometres under your feet, down a skinny hole, with mother nature getting a vote on everything. Something unexpected always happens. That’s why drilling is part engineering and part art.  You fall back on your maths, your physics, your balance of probabilities and most of all your imagination to pull it all together, and often you have to apply a large dose of creativity to find the best risk-, cost- and outcome-balanced solutions. 

New Zealand has a huge geothermal legacy and I am lucky to have overlapped and learnt from the very early NZ geothermal pioneers. We have world-class geothermal community, and you have to leave NZ to see it for what it truly is. So many smart people have spent their lives in this space. And culturally, Kiwi’s think differently. A favourite Ernest Rutherford quote I love is “We don’t have the money, therefore we’ve got to think”.  We don’t throw money at problems, we think our way through them. We design smarter. We adapt. That’s always been the Kiwi way. 

For me, geothermal isn’t just a job. It’s a calling. If we can make geothermal work – and in particular superhot geothermal – it’s a climate revolution. It means offsetting coalfired and gas fired power stations. It means real, permanent change. Very few people get the chance to work on something that truly matters. I know how lucky I am. If we can make this work, I’ll die happy – because I’ve helped make a real difference. 

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Read Pānui #1, December 2025