Crown Minerals (Petroleum) Amendment Act 2018

The Amendment made in 2018 to the Mineral Act stipulates that the application for permits for oil exploration fields is forbidden in the New Zealand Exclusive Economic Zone. 

The Government reversed the 2018 offshore oil and gas exploration ban by the Crown Minerals Amendement Act 2025, adopted on 31 July 2025 (Royal assent on 5 August 2025), reopening exploration and promoting domestic petroleum development as part of its energy security strategy.