Snapshot of minerals permit applications in 2022

We assess applications and issue permits to operators to prospect, explore and develop New Zealand’s mineral and petroleum resources.

These could be applications for new permits, or to make changes to current permits. We assess these applications against the legislative requirements to determine whether they should be granted.

Permit applications can take varying times for us to assess. It depends on the nature of the application, its complexity, and the completeness of information that has been provided. For example, some applications require consultation with iwi before we can make decisions on them.

Snapshot of minerals permit applications made in 2022

Total permit applications received in 2022: 320

These included new permit applications, as well as applications for changes to current permits.

Here’s how that compares with applications received in previous years:

Permit applications received year on year

Most of the permit applications made in 2022 were for mining permits.

2022 permit applications - type of permit

Total permit applications we made decisions on in 2022: 344

Decisions could mean the applications were rejected, granted, declined, withdrawn or revoked. This number is higher than what we received in 2022 because we also made decisions on permit applications received in prior years.

Top 3 types of permit applications received in 2022:

1. New permit applications (90)
2. Change of operator or transfer (56)
3. Extension of duration (51)

Top 5 regions for new permit applications:

1. West Coast (47)
2. Tasman (10)
3. Waikato (12)
4. Southland (10)
5. Otago (6)

Snapshot of active minerals permits

At the end of 2022 there were 845 active minerals permits.

The top 5 regions for active permits:

1. West Coast
2. Otago
3. Waikato
4. Southland
5. Tasman

The top 5 mineral types with active permits:

1. Gold
2. Aggregate
3. Coal
4. Gravel
5. Silver