Apply for a minerals Tier 1 or Tier 2 mining permit
Find out what a mining permit is and how to apply for one.
New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals (NZP&M) issues permits for minerals mining.
Mining permits are granted where the exact nature and extent of the mineable mineral resource or exploitable mineral deposit is known.
There are several ways of obtaining a mining permit, including:
- through an acceptable work programme offer (AWPO) application made over available land
- through a subsequent permit application following an exploration permit, or
- as part of a competitive process for newly available acreage (NAA) over a specified area of land.
Area and duration
The size of a mining permit will reflect the area that is to be mined or is necessary to develop the mining operation:
- The size of a Tier 1 permit will reflect the extent of the mineral discovery and the proposed work programme.
- Tier 2 permits are ordinarily no larger than 200 hectares.
The duration of a mining permit will reflect the operation type and scale:
- Tier 2 mining permits for alluvial gold are ordinarily granted for up to 10 years.
- Tier 2 permits for other minerals, and Tier 1 permits, will ordinarily be granted for a period necessary to mine the identified resource.
Fees
Application fee
You need to pay the full amount when you submit your application
| Permit type | Amount (including GST) |
|---|---|
| Tier 1 mining permit | $16,675 |
| Tier 2 mining permit | $5,750 |
Annual fee
The annual fee is paid in advance each year and is payable from the grant date of your application.
| Permit type | Amount (including GST) |
|---|---|
| Onshore Tier 1 mining permit | $2,058.50 per square kilometre or part of a square kilometre, or $1,610, whichever is greater. |
| Onshore Tier 2 mining permit | $2,058.50 per square kilometre or part of a square kilometre, or $1,150, whichever is greater. |
| Offshore mining permit | $102.22 per square kilometre or part of a square kilometre, or $1,610, whichever is greater. |
Obligations
When you apply for a mining permit, you are required to propose a minimum work programme. Your minimum work programme specifies the mining activities that you will carry out under the permit. Once the permit is granted, you are required to meet the minimum work programme obligations.
There are also annual reporting and fee-paying obligations that you will need to meet. Tier 1 permit holders may also be required to attend an annual review meeting each year.
Failure to comply with your obligations could result in your permit being revoked.
Find out more about how to comply with your minerals mining permit.
Permit Tier
NZP&M has a two-tiered permit management system:
- Tier 1 permits are complex, higher risk and return operations, and require more hands-on proactive management and regulation.
- Tier 2 permits are lower return industrial, small business, and hobby mineral operations, requiring a simpler, more pragmatic management regime.
Mining permits for gold, silver, and platinum group metals are classified Tier 1 if in any one permit year in the next five years of its life, the annual royalty will be equal to or more than $50,000.
Mining permits for coal, ironsand or any other metallic mineral are classified Tier 1 if in any one permit year in the next five years of its life, the annual production will be equal to or more than:
- 200,000 tonnes of coal
- 500,000 tonnes of ironsand
- 500,000 tonnes of ore (metallic mineral)
- any permit – regardless of mineral type or production threshold – is classified as a Tier 1 permit if it:
- relates to an underground operation; or
- relates to an operation that is wholly or partially 50m or more beyond the seaward side of the mean high-water mark, and
- is not for a special purpose mining activity.
All other permits are defined as Tier 2.
How to apply
You need to provide a completed application form and supporting information.
Fill out your application form online or email it to us
Apply online using the online permitting system. You will need a RealMe login to use the system. You can save your application as you go and come back to it at any time.
Or complete a new permit application form and email it to us at nzpam@mbie.govt.nz
Permit application form [PDF 353KB]
Compile any supporting documents
You need to provide supporting information with your permit application. Your application may be delayed or rejected if you don’t provide all the information needed to support your application.
We have created a supporting information template to help you. The notes under each heading give guidance, tips, and reminders of what you need to provide.
We suggest you complete the template and attach it to your online application or email it to us alongside your application form to nzpam@mbie.govt.nz.
Tier 2 mining permit supporting information template [DOCX 551KB]
We are in the process of creating a supporting information template to help you apply for a Tier 1 mining permit.
In the meantime, refer to the following documents when gathering supporting information for your application:
Minerals Application Guide [XLSX 25KB]
Chapter 10 of the Minerals Programme for Minerals (Excluding Petroleum) 2013 [PDF 2.6MB]