Types of petroleum permits
Petroleum permits allow you to prospect, explore, and mine petroleum resources in New Zealand. This page outlines the different permit types, what activities they allow, and their key requirements.
On this page:
We issue permits for 3 stages of petroleum activity:
- Prospecting
- Exploration
- Mining.
These permits are defined in the Crown Minerals Act 1991 and the Minerals Programme for Petroleum 2025.
Overview of the minerals and petroleum regulatory environment
All petroleum permits are classified as Tier 1, as they are complex, have bigger risk, and need more oversight.
Petroleum prospecting permits
Prospecting for petroleum means any activity to identify land that may contain petroleum.
A petroleum prospecting permit lets you investigate an area. Examples include:
- geological, geochemical, and geophysical surveying
- aerial surveying
- taking samples by hand or handheld methods
- taking small samples offshore by low-impact mechanical methods.
Drilling is not permitted under a petroleum prospecting permit.
Key features
- Generally granted as an exclusive permit, with the right to apply for a subsequent petroleum exploration permit over the same area.
- Usually granted for up to 2 years.
Permit size
There are no fixed size limits, however the area applied for should be consistent with the:
- area under the minimum work programme
- maximum area allowed for a petroleum exploration permit:
- 250 square kilometres if it includes onshore land
- 2,500 square kilometres if it includes land in the offshore Taranaki area
- 10,000 square kilometres if it is for anywhere else offshore.
How to apply
Applications are made under the open market competitive process.
Open market competitive process
Speculative prospecting permits
A speculative prospecting permit is non-exclusive and intended for applicants who gather data to on-sell to industry participants.
Key features
- Does not provide the exclusive right to apply for a subsequent exploration permit.
- Does not trigger the open market competitive process.
- Usually granted for short durations (up to a maximum of 4 years).
When evaluating applications, the Minister will determine if you are a speculative prospector by considering information such as your business model and business history.
How to apply
Complete an APP 01-PET application form, available on:
Apply for petroleum permits and manage current permits
Petroleum exploration permits
Exploration involves identifying and evaluating petroleum deposits, including drilling exploration wells.
A petroleum exploration permit allows you to:
- search for petroleum deposits
- assess whether it is possible to extract them.
Activities allowed include:
- sampling
- geological and geophysical surveying
- geological studies
- testing of petroleum discoveries, and
- well drilling.
Key features
- Exclusive and carry rights to apply for a subsequent mining permit.
- Usually granted for:
- up to 10 years (if it includes onshore land)
- up to 12 years (if it includes land in the offshore Taranaki area)
- up to 15 years otherwise.
- May be extended for appraisal for up to 4 years with a possible second extension.
Clauses 7.8(6) to (18) of the Minerals Programme for Petroleum 2025 [PDF 1.8MB]
Permit size
There are restrictions on the size of a petroleum exploration permit depending on its location. They are usually up to:
- 250 square kilometres (if it includes onshore land)
- 2,500 square kilometres (if it includes land in the offshore Taranaki area)
- 10,000 square kilometres (if it does not include onshore land or land in the Offshore Taranaki area).
How to apply
You can apply through the:
Subsequent rights (prospecting to exploration)
If your petroleum prospecting permit includes a right to apply for a subsequent petroleum exploration permit, you can do so by surrendering your prospecting permit.
This application will not start an open market competitive process, as this process was completed when you applied for your prospecting permit.
Applications through the Block Offer tender process also do not start an open market competitive process.
How to apply
You can apply:
- by completing an APP 01-PET application form, available on:
Apply for petroleum permits and manage current permits - by submitting a tender when invited under the Block Offer tender process:
Block offer exploration permit tender process
Petroleum mining permits
A petroleum mining permit allows you to develop a discovered petroleum field to extract and produce petroleum.
Key features
- Usually allocated to the holder of a petroleum exploration permit who has discovered a petroleum accumulation within the permit area.
- Granted based on the evaluation of an appraisal programme and work programme.
- Size and duration of the permit is limited to the extent of the discovery but can last for a maximum of 40 years.
How to apply
Complete an APP 01-PET application form, available on:
Apply for petroleum permits and manage current permits
Petroleum mining permits are not assessed or allocated through the open market competitive process.
Licences
Rights to prospect, explore, and mine for petroleum issued before 1991 under the Petroleum Act 1937 are known as ‘licences’.
Land access
Holding a permit does not give you automatic rights to access the permit area. Generally, for exploration and mining activities, permit holders must arrange land access with the landowner and occupier.
For minimum impact activity, 10 days' notice is required (except over special classes of land, such as urban conservation land).
Permits and land access in New Zealand [PDF 713KB]
Further information
Petroleum Programme (Minerals Programme for Petroleum 2025) [PDF 1.8MB]