New Zealand grants first offshore oil and gas permit since ban lifted
New Zealand's coalition government reversed a 2018 offshore drilling ban and awarded its first offshore oil and gas exploration permit to Australian company EnZed Energy. The 12‑year permit covers about 546 sq km in the Taranaki Basin, east of the Kupe gas field (the Kaheru prospect). Resources Minister Shane Jones called the permit a “major milestone” that shows the country is open for business.
The decision comes as New Zealand’s proven and probable natural‑gas reserves have fallen 23 % to 731 petajoules as of 1 January 2026, the lowest level on record, and domestic gas production has dropped from roughly 415 million cubic metres per month in 2017 to about 215 million in 2025. The government says gas remains vital for electricity generation during low‑hydro periods and is planning an LNG import terminal to be operational as early as next year or by 2028. Energy Resources Aotearoa chief executive John Carnegie said the permit is a first step toward rebuilding the gas supply, noting that gas keeps the lights on, supports the renewable grid and underpins thousands of high‑value jobs.
Entities: Christopher Luxon · EnZed Energy · John Carnegie · New Zealand · Shane Jones · Taranaki Basin
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's government lifted the offshore ban in 2022 to avoid gas shortages and support power generation during low hydropower output. (Reuters)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] New Zealand's coalition centre‑right government granted its first offshore petroleum exploration permit since lifting the 2018 ban. (Shane Jones)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Resources Minister Shane Jones said the permit shows New Zealand is open for business and that understanding the remaining resource potential is important. (Shane Jones)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The permit was awarded to Australian private company EnZed Energy for a 12‑year exploration in the Taranaki Basin. (Shane Jones)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] New Zealand recorded an all‑time peak electricity demand of 7,141 MW in recent days. (John Carnegie)
- [● 3 SOURCES] New Zealand's natural gas reserves fell 23 % to 731 petajoules by 1 January 2026, the lowest level on record. (Reuters)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Carnegie claimed gas keeps the lights on, supports the renewable grid and thousands of high‑value jobs; without new supply New Zealand faces higher prices and greater reliance on coal. (John Carnegie)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Energy Resources Aotearoa chief executive John Carnegie said the permit is a first step toward rebuilding New Zealand's gas supply under the new Crown Minerals regime. (John Carnegie)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The permit area covers about 546 square kilometres east of the Kupe gas field, known as the Kaheru prospect. (432f95a5-cb1e-4436-8ba2-0571ba793073,5e447051-e327-4300-99d5-4acf2f889900)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Energy Resources Aotearoa CEO John Carnegie said the permit is a first step to rebuild gas supply, noting gas keeps lights on, supports the renewable grid and secures thousands of high‑value jobs. (1d683e55-baf9-40da-b177-83d901bf074a)
- [● 5 SOURCES] The permit was granted to Australian company EnZed Energy for a 12‑year exploration period in the Taranaki Basin. (c9b5d015-a815-4993-8b11-5c408bd87058,4f8781a2-f24b-43d4-bf20-cd0aed9a886d,432f95a5-cb1e-4436-8ba2-0571ba793073,1befc4fce)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The government plans to build an LNG import terminal to be operating as early as next year or by 2028. (c9b5d015-a815-4993-8b11-5c408bd87058,4f8781a2-f24b-43d4-bf20-cd0aed9a886d)