Mapping guidance for minerals permit applications
New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals (NZP&M) have developed mapping standards to help applicants provide accurate locations when submitting their minerals permit applications. The consistent approach to mapping will improve the accuracy of permit locations and allow NZP&M to make a timely decision on applications.
All new minerals permit applications or extension of land applications must submit a map that clearly identifies where the proposed permit activities will take place. This guidance provides applicants with information on how to produce quality maps and files for their application.
Before you apply
Before applying for a new minerals permit or an extension of land you must ensure that the area you apply for is available for permitting and doesn’t overlap with any existing permits. You can check what areas are available by using the permit webmaps.
NZP&M recommends using a registered surveyor to create maps and other files for your permit application. Some permit areas may need to be surveyed on the ground to meet the accuracy of your permit type.
Whether the permit map is created by a surveyor, another person or yourself, the submitted map and file should meet the mapping standards. Further guidance and a link to the mapping standards are provided below.
What you need to provide
Refer to the Crown Minerals (Minerals Other than Petroleum) Regulations 2007 alongside the mapping standards when creating your permit map. The mapping standards determine the digital data accuracy level required for each permit type.
Mapping standards for minerals permit applications - version 1.1 [PDF 265KB]
You should provide:
A map of the area
The map must meet the definition of a map set out in regulation 4 of the Crown Minerals (Minerals Other than Petroleum) Regulations 2007.
The map should:
- be appropriately annotated with a North arrow, scale bar, labels of key features etc.
- meet the accuracy parameters for the type of permit. Refer to the Mapping standards.
- be created using coordinates from the digital file using mapping software.
Read regulation 4 of the Crown Minerals (Minerals Other than Petroleum) Regulations 2007 — New Zealand Legislation
A digital file
The digital file must meet the definition of a permit area set out in regulation 5 of the Crown Minerals (Minerals Other than Petroleum) Regulations 2007.
These are the preferred formats for digital files:
- File Geodatabase (fGDB) poly feature class
- Esri shapefile
- MapInfo tab file, or
- GPS collected data (GPX, etc).
Read Regulation 5 of the Crown Minerals (Minerals Other than Petroleum) Regulations 2007 — New Zealand Legislation
The digital file should:
- define the boundaries of the map using coordinates in NZTM2000 or NZGD2000.
- meet the accuracy parameters for the type of permit. Refer to the Mapping standards.
- explain how you determined the permit boundary. Include metadata, such as data sources.
A text description of the map and digital file
The permit application map and digital files should be accompanied by a brief, plain language description of:
- the boundaries of the area you are applying for.
- the purpose and intended use of the area you are applying for.
Next steps
When we receive your application we will make sure you have provided all the information we need to make a decision on it. If your map does not meet the mapping standards, we may ask you to resubmit your map and digital file. This could result in a delay processing your application.
If your map does not suitably identify the application area, your application could be declined.
Contact us
If you have questions about the mapping standards, get in touch with us.