Regulatory Environment
New Zealand’s skilled and deregulated labour base, sound employment and labour laws, as well as government support of new industry and clean technology, provide a solid foundation for industries to flourish here.
Kawerau District Council has long standing relationships with industrial businesses, meaning that regulations are already in place to best suit industries.
ISK’s strong relationship with the Council is central to this relationship and core to strategic planning for the District.
Water availability & disposal
Kawerau’s water supply comes from two natural springs. There are also three wells available for use if the supply from the springs is insufficient to meet local demand during times of extended drought.
The health of our freshwater is vital for the health of our people, environment, and economy, and New Zealand’s freshwater quality is being impacted by urban development, agriculture, horticulture, forestry and other activities. Therefore new regulation has been introduced and will be managed and monitored by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.
If you need to take and disperse significant amounts of water you will need to apply for a resource consent from Regional Council. For further advice on this, please contact us.
Land Usage
The land in Kawerau is prime for industrial purpose with both brown and green fields consented for industrial development.
A new 113 hectare subdivision owned by the Putauaki Trust is designed to host new businesses and is currently zoned for light to medium industrial use. This site offers businesses the opportunity to adopt green principles and utilise renewable resources and geothermal energy. Infrastructure such as wastewater reticulation, storm water, energy and communication services etc is in place and Putauaki Trust is keen to lease land to businesses with long term sustainable operations.
Climate Change
As the approach to climate change evolves, government will almost certainly introduce new policies for industry to follow in terms of resources and emissions.
With Kawerau’s availability of natural and renewable resources, and it’s rail link to the Port of Tauranga, operating a business here has advantages both to the environment and the industry.
By using geothermal for process heat, biomass residues typically burned for this can be put to higher value uses such as biofuels. Low grade heat as a by-product of geothermal power generation can be used for food production and processing. These are examples of where one opportunity unlocks another as part of a balanced, integrated clean economy that is beneficial in the efforts to combat climate change.
Natural Disaster
Although Kawerau sits above the Taupo Geothermal Field, usage of the resource is heavily monitored to ensure all risks are minimized. Putauaki (the mountain situated on the township’s boundary) has not had any volcanic activity in the last 2000 years, and is not considered an active volcano.
Located nearly thirty kilometres from the nearest coast, any tsunami or tidal damage risk is virtually zero. The land is volcanic soil, meaning that it is free draining and difficult to flood in the event of heavy rainfall.
Gas Pipelines
Kawerau boasts a strong infrastructure that allows businesses to utilise the environment’s natural gas supplies. As hydrogen comes on stream, this infrastructure will be utilized as a distribution network.
Kawerau offers the perfect environment and support for companies wanting a sustainable way of operating their business.