New Zealand Oil Explorers Rush to Secure Offshore Permits Before Election

Small oil and gas companies are vying to secure exploration permits offshore New Zealand in the coming months before a potential reinstatement of the drilling ban in the country. Last year, New Zealand reopened for oil and gas exploration, ready to receive applications for exploration projects after a seven-year pause, following the lifting of a ban on such activity installed by the previous government. The upstream policy reversal has not led to new drilling contracts so far. But some of the oi