The Philippines and New Zealand plan to elevate their bilateral relations to a comprehensive partnership by next year, drawing on 60 years of diplomatic ties and decades of cooperation across various sectors, including geothermal.

This was revealed by New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines Dr. Catherine McIntosh during the 6th Philippine International Geothermal Conference held at Rockwell Center, Makati City on Wednesday, Sept. 10.

The envoy underpinned how geothermal energy has been a “constant thread” throughout the two countries’ diplomatic relationship.

“Our geothermal cooperation dates back to the beginning – to the 1960s and 1970s, when New Zealand provided technical assistance that helped launch the Philippines’ geothermal programme — laying foundations for fields like Tongonan, Palinpinon, and Tiwi,” she said in her remarks.

“New Zealand and the Philippines share a long history, built on friendship, mutual respect, and the ambition to harness renewable energy for our peoples. Looking ahead, we will elevate our ties to a Comprehensive Partnership by 2026—and I have no doubt geothermal energy will be one of its shining pillars,” she added.

Noting that geothermal in New Zealand is a “way of life,” McIntosh pointed out that the visit of New Zealand’s leading geothermal companies and the opening of Western Energy’s branch in Laguna province are “concrete investments” that “show how New Zealand firms are here not only to share expertise, but to be enduring partners on the ground.”

“And I am delighted to announce: this journey is about to reach a new flash point. New Zealand and the Philippines are currently developing a further amendment to our Arrangement on Geothermal Energy Cooperation, which has driven our bilateral cooperation,” the ambassador said.

She explained that similar with New Zealand, the Philippines’ geothermal fields lie within ancestral domains, underscoring the need to develop these resources with science and with respect to the country’s culture.

“In New Zealand, the Māori concept of kaitiakitanga, or guardianship, is central to our approach to geothermal energy. It is all about managing the environment, recognising people are closely connected to the land and nature, and preserving it for generations to come,” McIntosh said.

The Geothermal Conference—with the presence of Philippine government officials and geothermal institutions from New Zealand, shows “the depth of expertise and commitment we bring to our shared journey,” she added.