Employer Bulletin | 23 March 2026

The Government has released a new national strategy to support the future development of geothermal energy.

From the Ground Up – A strategy to unlock New Zealand’s geothermal potential sets out how geothermal energy can play a larger role in New Zealand’s energy system, regional economies and industrial growth. The strategy includes an ambition to double geothermal energy use by 2040.

Geothermal already provides around one-fifth of New Zealand’s electricity and is used across the country for activities such as manufacturing, food processing, tourism and heating.

The strategy focuses on practical actions to support development, including clarifying and refreshing regulatory settings, improving access to geothermal data, reducing early-stage risk for new projects and supporting greater uptake of geoheat by businesses and communities. The final strategy also added stronger emphasis on working in partnership with Māori. Finally, it looks ahead to emerging geothermal technologies that could increase energy output and support long term energy resilience.

In today’s Bulletin:

• Authority picks apart errors in investigation
• Employee made redundant without any discussion
• Farm puts employee in woolly situation
• Expensive legal fees repayment clause looms for employee
• Employee not impacted enough for interim reinstatement
• Six news updates of interest for employers including:
  • Geothermal strategy released
  • Waikato steel manufacturing project Fast-tracked
  • Takitimu North Link Stage 2 Fast-tracked
  • Current account deficit $4.6 billion for the December 2025 quarter
  • GDP increases 0.2 percent in the December 2025 quarter
  • Bill introduced to cut red tape and modernise alcohol law
  • Immigration New Zealand provides clearer visa processing time information
  • Nonpayment of PAYE a serious offence
• Nine Bills Open for submission

If you have any questions, about this case or other employment relation matters, call the Advice Line team on 0800 800 362.