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Editorial deep dive

48th New Zealand Geothermal Workshop 2026, Auckland

MICE editorial — 13 October 2026 Auckland Tier A

The 48th New Zealand Geothermal Workshop runs 18–20 November 2026 at the University of Auckland's Faculty of Engineering and Design, hosted by the Geothermal Institute.

The 48th New Zealand Geothermal Workshop runs from 18 to 20 November 2026 at the Faculty of Engineering and Design, University of Auckland. According to the organiser's site at geothermalworkshop.co.nz, the 2026 edition is paper-driven, with keynote addresses and a full technical programme whose proceedings are archived on the International Geothermal Association database.

This is the 48th consecutive edition of an event that is one of the longest-running geothermal gatherings in the world, held each November across New Zealand's geothermal regions. The 47th workshop was held in Rotorua in November 2025, per the International Geothermal Association's event listing.

Who runs it

The workshop is hosted by the University of Auckland, through its Geothermal Institute. The organiser's site lists the NZGW Organising Committee as Sadiq J. Zarrouk, John O'Sullivan, Di Whiting, Bridget Lynne, Mike O'Sullivan and Michael Gravatt, with registration and enquiries handled at the University.

The Geothermal Institute, established in 1978 and based in the University's Faculty of Engineering, describes itself as home to the largest group of geothermal researchers in the world and delivers postgraduate training, research and consultancy. The New Zealand Geothermal Association is also woven into the programme, sponsoring the Best Overall Paper, Best Student Paper and Best Poster awards, alongside awards from the Bay of Plenty and Waikato Regional Councils.

Who it's for

The workshop draws geothermal scientists, reservoir and drilling engineers, academics, postgraduate students, developers, regulators and regional council staff from New Zealand and overseas. The emphasis on peer-reviewed papers, student awards and a Mātauranga Māori paper category signals a technical and research-oriented audience rather than a general trade show.

The venue and getting there

The University of Auckland's Faculty of Engineering and Design is in central Auckland, within the city's main campus precinct close to the CBD. Auckland Airport, New Zealand's largest international gateway, sits about 20 kilometres south of the city centre and is the standard arrival point for domestic and international delegates. The central-city location places the venue within walking distance of a dense cluster of CBD hotels and serviced accommodation, and it is served by Auckland's bus and rail network.

Why it matters for NZ MICE

Geothermal energy is one of New Zealand's defining industries, and the workshop anchors a specialist technical conference to a world-recognised university research institute. For the MICE sector it represents a recurring, academically credible November fixture that brings an international expert audience into Auckland, with clear accommodation and transport demand around a central-city campus and a knowledge-economy profile that aligns with New Zealand's positioning as a destination for serious scientific and energy-sector gatherings.

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