Nau mai, welcome to the Energy Markets and Resource Markets Pānui - Māehe 

Pānui is a regular update from the Energy Markets and Resource Markets branches, part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). This update is for iwi, hapū and other Māori organisations with an interest in the Energy and Resources sectors. Find out about our latest work and relevant updates. 

Update on the Crown Minerals Amendment Bill

The Crown Minerals Amendment Bill (CMA) makes several changes to the Crown Minerals Act 1991 (the Act), including removing the ban on new petroleum exploration beyond onshore Taranaki, and changes to increase investor confidence in New Zealand’s petroleum sector.

During the progression of the Bill, a gap was identified in the decommissioning regime. This led to changes being made to the Bill in November 2024. Officials are working through the detail of this, to enable the Bill to advance to its final Parliamentary stages. 

See more about the proposed changes: Crown Minerals Act Law Changes - New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals

Draft Crown Minerals Programmes (CMA) – Public Consultation 

Since our last issue of the pānui (December 2024), we have met with many during the consultation process for the draft CMA, no reira, e mihi ana kia koutou.

Now that the consultation period has closed, we are analysing all submissions in advance of providing the Minister with recommendations. Some changes may align with the Crown Minerals Amendment Bill 2024; therefore, the Minister's decisions and timing of those decisions will depend on the progress of the Bill.

If you have any pātai or kōrero please feel free to email the team at cmaprogrammes@mbie.govt.nz. We can also make ourselves available for calls or Microsoft Teams meetings, if that is your preference.
 
More information can be found here: Crown Minerals Act 1991 programmes - New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals

Update on the Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List  

On 31 January at the OceanaGold Waihi operation, the Minister for Resources launched New Zealand’s national Minerals Strategy to 2040 (the Strategy) and New Zealand’s first Critical Minerals List. 

The Strategy sets a vision for a minerals sector that delivers for New Zealanders, now and into the future, by supporting a productive and resilient economy through responsible and sustainable practices. It has three key outcomes for minerals development: Productive, Valued and Resilient. The outcomes are guided by overarching principles to ensure Treaty obligations are honoured, and that the minerals system supports responsible practices. 

The Critical Minerals List identifies 37 minerals that are economically important to New Zealand and that are either vulnerable to supply risk or are essential to unlocking other critical minerals. It includes 21 that are produced here already or with the potential to be produced here in the future. 

MBIE is leading the Strategy actions stated in the Delivery Roadmap on pages 18 and 19 of the Strategy, which will progress the three outcomes of Productive, Valued and Resilient. Our teams will be undertaking engagement and consultation on many of these pieces as they progress, some of this engagement is already underway (i.e. natural and orange hydrogen, please see update further in this pānui). 

More information about the Minerals Strategy and Critical can be found here:
Minerals and petroleum - Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

Developing a Geothermal Strategy

On 21 March 2025, Hon Shane Jones (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Resources, and Associate Minister for Energy) released a statement of his intention to develop a holistic Geothermal Strategy.

The intention is to unlock the potential of New Zealand’s abundant geothermal resources in applications such as energy generation (including supercritical geothermal technology), tourism, mineral resources, science and technology, and regional and Māori economic development. MBIE is leading the development of this strategic document, which we expect will be launched in the second half of 2025 (Jun/July).

Māori have a long history of utilising geothermal resources and are actively developing and operating geothermal energy generation, tourism ventures, and glasshouse food production using geothermal heat.

Māori rights and interests in geothermal resources are currently subject to Waitangi Tribunal consideration through Stage 3 of the Wai 2358 Freshwater and Geothermal resources inquiry.

MBIE are currently in the early stages of engagement planning and will be reaching out to iwi with geothermal resources shortly.

If you would like to engage with MBIE or have any initial thoughts, please reach out to resourcepolicy@mbie.govt.nz

Early engagement on natural and orange hydrogen has commenced

New Zealand has prospects for both naturally occurring hydrogen that is generated below the surface of the earth (natural hydrogen), and for artificially stimulated geological hydrogen (orange hydrogen).

The Government has work underway to clarify regulatory settings and assess if changes are needed to enable exploration for natural hydrogen and development of orange hydrogen. 
Early engagement with iwi and hapū that indicated interest in the topic took place in March 2025, consultation will continue through to the end of April 2025 with any further interested iwi and hapū. 

Further opportunity to engage on this work will be available during the wider public consultation phase, which is intended to take place in quarter two of 2025 (July/Aug). 
If you are interested in engaging on this topic, please email resourcepolicy@mbie.govt.nz 

What is hydrogen?

Hydrogen can play a role in reducing emissions in hard-to-electrify sectors. Hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant element in the universe and can carry and store energy like a battery.  This energy can then be used to produce electricity through a fuel cell to power machines or combusted for heat and energy. It has a wide range of applications in sectors ranging from power, industry, and heavy transport. 

Hydrogen can be produced through a range of methods. Adding natural and orange hydrogen to the energy system mix could support New Zealand transition to a low-emissions economy and could contribute to economic growth, energy security and resilience.

Strengthening Partnerships: Engaging for a Sustainable Future

“Mā te rongo, ka mōhio, Mā te mōhio, ka mārama”
From listening comes knowledge, from knowledge comes understanding.

Our Te Kāpehu team is designed to be the compass that supports both iwi and hapū to connect and engage with our Energy and Resources branches on various streams of work. 

We would love to work more proactively with iwi and hapū to ensure your voices are heard, and your aspirations are reflected in conversations, and policy proposals. We have appreciated the participation in our many engagements over the last six-months and encourage you to continue to engage with us and reach out if you have any questions. 

Let's work together to strengthen these pathways of engagement – contact us anytime at TeKapehu@mbie.govt.nz to start the kōrero.

No reira, kia tau iho ngā manaakitanga ki a koutou katoa. 

Energy and Resource Markets 
Hīkina Whakatutuki - Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)