Mining industry statistics for 2024

These figures include a range of data on minerals production, revenue from minerals and petroleum royalties, and industry expenditure on prospecting and exploration.

Key findings for this year:

• Total Government revenue fell to $143.4 million in 2024-25, a 40.1% decrease from 2023–24, due to a significant decline in petroleum production across most fields.
• Petroleum royalties and energy resource levies dropped to $123.7 million, down 44.4% year-on-year.
• Coal royalties declined from $3.66 million to $1.78 million, driven by lower prices and reduced output at Stockton Mine following the partial collapse of the Reefton rail tunnel.
• Coal production decreased marginally to 2,509,426 tonnes, compared to 2,600,084 tonnes in 2023.
• Gold royalties increased by 26% to $11.6 million, supported by strong international prices.
• Gold production totalled 213 koz in 2024, slightly down from 220 koz in 2023. OceanaGold’s Macraes and Waihi mines contributed 84% of total output.
• Prospecting and exploration expenditure under Crown-mineral permits declined by 12% to $62.3 million, while consenting and administration costs rose 26% to $26.1 million, likely reflecting the transition of several major projects from exploration to mining stages.
• Aggregate production dipped slightly from 32.60 Mt in 2023 to 31.47 Mt in 2024. Material used for building rose 12%, while material for roading fell 15.7%.

This data has a range of uses, including informing and providing assessment of Government policy proposals.

Annual minerals industry statistics and survey

Notes:

This dataset is the only nationwide compilation of data on minerals, and comprises:

• information reported to the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment (MBIE) (under statute) in relation to permits held under the Crown Minerals Act 1991 (this dataset can be considered complete), and
• information voluntarily provided to MBIE via a survey in relation to quarries producing industrial rocks and minerals.

Most of these quarries do not require a Crown minerals permit as the minerals are privately owned (this dataset is not complete).

This year the response rate for the 'Annual return of industrial rocks and minerals output' that partially underpins the data was 56% of the sector. Data released from the survey is anonymised so that no individual producer’s data can be identified.