Interactive: New Zealand Exploration Comeback

New Zealand’s government passed an Act in 2025 to reverse its 2018 exploration ban, aiming for a resurgence of investment, improved exploration levels, and ultimately development of additional resources to supply local consumers.

The 2014 oil price crash, 2018 Crown Minerals Act, and Covid-19 led to significantly reduced levels of activity; this included minimal levels of drilling, companies withdrawing both acreage and presence in New Zealand, and what the government saw as “gas supply reducing faster and sooner than previously forecast”.

A new Budget 2025, Open-Market-Application program, and plans to revitalize activity, are all hoped to turn the downward trend around.

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