New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon speaking to supporters after his 2023 election victory
New Zealand is back open for business
The removal of the ban on oil and gas exploration and an overhaul of the system sends all the right messages for energy security, affordability and sustainability
New Zealand’s coalition government, elected in October 2023, lifted the ban this year on new oil and gas exploration imposed by the previous administration. This legislative package—the Crown Minerals Amendment Bill 2025—passed its final reading in Parliament in July, thereby reopening all of New Zealand’s territory to oil and gas exploration. The new law explicitly repeals the 2018 restrictions and establishes a revamped framework to attract explorers. “Our job as the government is to provide the right policy settings to enable the sector to get to work,” Resources Minister Shane Jones said, “and that is exactly what we are aiming to achieve through these amendments”. The reforms include
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