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Continental Shelf Act
Continental Shelf Act Legislation
The Continental Shelf Act 1964 (‘CSA’) makes provision for the exploration and exploitation of the continental shelf of New Zealand. In particular, it provides for the granting of licences in relation to prospecting and mining of minerals on the continental shelf, and the carrying out of operations for the recovery of minerals.
The jurisdiction of the CSA, is the seabed and subsoils of those marine areas extending beyond the 12 nautical mile of New Zealand to a distance of 200 nautical miles and in some areas to the outer edge of the continental margin. The high levels of technical prospectivity on our continental shelf which, combined with advances in seabed exploration and mining technology, have resulted in interest from domestic and international investors seeking to identify and exploit a range of submarine mineral deposits.
[The Minister will use these clauses when issuing a licence under the Continental Shelf Act. The environmental clauses will need to be negotiated on a case-by-case basis].
Area closed for applications within the Continental Shelf
Due to an increased knowledge and interest in seafloor minerals, New Zealand Petroleum & Minerals will not be accepting any new mineral licence applications over a specific area of the Continental Shelf, as shown on the map below, except where the rights of an existing licensee prevails.
The period for not accepting applications has been extended a further 8 months from 6 August 2011. During this time New Zealand Petroleum & Minerals will be undertaking a review of the area's prospectivity for seafloor massive sulphides, based on current information.
This review will provide New Zealand Petroleum & Minerals the opportunity to consolidate data over the area and decide on the most appropriate allocation approach moving forward to maximize the Crown’s knowledge and potential financial return associated with seafloor massive sulphides.
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