Apply for a prospecting permit
Find out what a prospecting permit is and how to apply for one.
New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals (NZP&M) issues permits for the prospecting of mineral deposits.
Prospecting is often the first stage in the search for mineral deposits and involves minimum impact work to search for land likely to contain mineral deposits or occurrences. Allowed activities are very low-impact, and include literature searches, geological mapping, hand sampling, offshore sampling (by low-impact mechanical methods), and aerial surveys.
Area and duration
Onshore permits are ordinarily no larger than 500 square kilometres and offshore permits are ordinarily no larger than 5,000 square kilometres.
The duration of a prospecting permit will ordinarily be considered for no longer than two years.
There is an ability to apply for an extension of duration for another two years.
Fees
Application fee
You need to pay the full amount when you submit your application
| Permit type | Amount (including GST) |
|---|---|
| Prospecting permit | $3,450 |
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 prospecting permit | $63.02 per square kilometre or part of a square kilometre, or $1,610.00, whichever is greater. |
| Offshore prospecting permit | $3.58 per square kilometre or part of a square kilometre, or $1,610.00, whichever is greater. |
Obligations
When you apply for a prospecting permit, you are required to propose a minimum work programme. Your minimum work programme specifies the prospecting 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.
Failure to comply with your obligations could result in your permit being revoked.
Find out more about how to comply with your minerals prospecting 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.
All minerals prospecting permits are classified as Tier 2.
How to apply
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 into us at nzpam@mbie.govt.nz
Permit application form [PDF 353KB]
Complete the supporting information template and 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.
Fill out the prospecting permit supporting information.
Prospecting permit supporting information template [DOCX 548KB]
Attach this template to your online application or email it to us alongside your application form.