Climate Action LedgerTracking climate leadership · Aotearoa NZ
NC-003··National-led coalition (with ACT & NZ First)·legislation

Offshore oil & gas ban reversed

Major harm -2

What happened

Crown Minerals Amendment Act 2025 removed 2018 ban on new offshore petroleum exploration; changed CMA purpose from 'manage' to 'promote' Crown minerals.

Why it matters

Re-opens offshore fossil exploration and promotes petroleum investment.

Impact assessment

Reversal of prior restriction with promotional framing - major lock-in/signal harm.

Attribution

shared (high confidence) -NZ First, National

NZ First Resources Minister Shane Jones; National coalition partner.

Coalition period: National-led coalition (with ACT & NZ First) (27 November 2023 - present)

Categories

mitigation

Sources