Oil, Gas and Mineral Activity
In this section
Agency roles in offshore oil, gas and mineral activity in New Zealand
Learn about offshore oil, gas and mineral activities in New Zealand’s offshore waters and the role of different agencies in regulating these operations and responding to incidents.
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Requirements overseen by Maritime NZ for offshore oil and gas installations
Learn about the main requirements Maritime NZ oversees for offshore oil and gas installations to manage risks to the environment.
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Safety zones and precautionary areas
To reduce the risk of a maritime incident and resulting marine pollution, some safety zones and a precautionary area have been established around New Zealand.
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Offshore Installation Oil Spill Contingency Plans and Insurance requirements
All offshore oil and gas installations, including exploration drilling and production facilities, must have an Offshore Installation Oil Spill Contingency Plan under the Marine Protection Rules Part 131.
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New Zealand’s offshore waters
New Zealand’s offshore waters include the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), Continental Shelf (CS), and Territorial Waters:
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The EEZ is the area from 12 to 200 nautical miles (nm) offshore.
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The CS is the area where New Zealand’s submerged landmass extends beyond the EEZ. New Zealand has one of the largest CS areas in the world, covering more than four million square kilometres, more than 20 times the size of New Zealand.
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New Zealand’s Territorial Waters are the marine waters that extend from the coast out to the 12 nm limit.
Image showing New Zealand's 12 nautical mile limit