New Zealand:

Maori Trust Watches over Geothermal Station Repair (Stuff)

Ngahihi o te ra Bidois, trustee for Tauhara North No. 2 Trust, grins widely.

No, it's not a giant pepper shaker or an overpriced piece of public art.  It is a $7 million turbine rotor used to generate power from steam. The rotor was installed at Mighty River Power's Nga Awa Purua geothermal power station last week during its annual shutdown.

Geothermal operations manager Paul Ware said the rotor was part of the largest single shaft geothermal triple-flash turbine in the world. "The triple-flash means it uses three different steam pressures to drive the turbine."

He said during a routine inspection of the Taupo power station in October 2013, a fault in the rotor was identified. Temporary repairs enabled the power plant to remain in operation, albeit at only 95 per cent production. The replacement rotor was built by Fuji Electric in Kawasaki, Japan, and will bring the station back up to full production.

Trustees of Tauhara North No 2 Trust visited the station on Thursday to say a karakia [prayer] to bless the 62 tonne rotor. The plant is 35 per cent owned by the Maori trust and 65 per cent is owned by Mighty River Power.

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