Minerals Strategy and Critical Minerals List

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Minerals Strategy 

The Government has launched a Minerals Strategy communicating their vision for the minerals sector, and the actions that will be taken to get there.

Minerals strategy for New Zealand to 2040 — Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment 

The production of minerals benefits New Zealanders in a range of ways, by:

  • supporting individuals with high-paying jobs in the regions, and training and education opportunities
  • supporting community investments and community sponsorships
  • providing momentum for local service businesses, and regional infrastructure and housing
  • generating corporate taxes and GST, which in turn contribute to funding our roads, healthcare, and education services.

Around half of mining involves the production of Crown-owned minerals where royalties are also generated and paid into the Government’s account.

Minerals are also critical inputs into products that are necessary for modern life. They:

  • form the basis for New Zealand’s clean energy transition, from wind turbines to electricity networks
  • are contained in a wide range of everyday products from medical devices and some medicines to construction materials, cleaning products and much more.  

While New Zealand utilises these products, our critical minerals contributions to them are limited.

The existing minerals industry earns $1.46 billion in exports, while creating 5,000+ regional jobs. By realising new and critical mineral opportunities, and potential domestic processing and refining, the potential of the future industry is for earnings of $3 billion in exports by 2035, and 7000+ in regional jobs.

Critical Minerals List 

In conjunction with the development of the Minerals Strategy, the Government has finalised a Critical Minerals List to identify the minerals that are essential to New Zealand’s economic, technological, clean energy and international trade needs.

There are 37 minerals included on the Critical Minerals List.

Critical minerals list for New Zealand — Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment

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