(Utilisation of Second-Hand Plant to Reduce Capital Investment and Project Lead Times, Minoru Frederiksens et al., 2000) Steam supply constraints limited full power to about fourteen hours a day, with only about 3 MW at night.

This unusual operating pattern attracted analysis, as in Optimised Numerical Modelling of Production from the Poihipi Dry Steam Zone: Wairakei Geothermal System by Sadiq J. Zarrouk et al., 2006.

In 2001 Contact applied for fresh consents (for Wairakei, and Poihipi which it had bought in 2000) which were granted in 2004 but appealed against by the Taupō Council (concerned over land subsidence) and others.

In 2007, approval was gained, so with access to more steam (from the whole field, not just that under the McLachlan's land) generation attained 50 MW, full-time; the plot shows that such operation precedes 2007.

MGL attempted to apply for additional consents allowing the discharge of contaminants to the air, but the Ngati Rauhoto hapu appealed due to inadequate consultation.

An application to commence usage was rejected because it was MGL's error in deciding to complete the station before securing all necessary consents, but a priority hearing was allowed.

The McLachlans responded with litigation on two fronts: suing Mercury Energy (by then split, into retail activity still called Mercury Energy but taken over by Mighty River Power, while the line network business became Vector) for faults that led to the failure of the joint venture (claiming $400,000,000), and, denying that the land had been properly sold to Contact as the McLaughlans (the pre-MGL owners) had arranged for the right of first refusal should that land be sold.

In 2004, the McLachlans secured resource consent for a second Poihipi power station just over a kilometre SSE and again encountered objection from Contact.