Energy company to meet the costs of future proofing marae
Contact Energy has agreed to meet the costs of saving Ngāti Tahu -Ohaaki Marae from future flood risks from the Waikato River. Since 1992, Ohaaki Marae (located north of Taupo) has sunken 3.7 metres, it is believed that subsidence is due to the extraction of underground geothermal fluid by the nearby Contact Energy power station.
Contact Energy bought the Ohaaki geothermal power plant from the government in the 1990’s. As part of the sale the Contact Energy agreed to mitigate further subsidence and move the marae if necessary. The cost is unknown as yet, and discussions are continuing with the iwi.