Physicist Ron Keam fought a long battle in the 1970s and 1980s to save the remaining geysers. They seemed likely to disappear, because of geothermal development. Keam and fellow scientist Ted Lloyd had documented the decline of geyser activity since the 1950s, but their arguments were ignored. Eventually the matter went to the Court of Appeal. In a landmark decision, the court ruled that geothermal testing and development involved water, and therefore it was necessary to apply for water rights under the Water and Soil Conservation Act. This meant that applicants had to consider the impact of their proposals on the environment and other users, and has had a major impact on preserving surface geothermal features.
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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Reference: Dominion, 11 March 1982, p. 4
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