New Zealand Clears Minerals Permit Backlog Boosting Sector Growth and Investment

A backlog of historical minerals permit applications has been cleared, delivering on the Government’s commitment to a more efficient permitting system that provides greater certainty for the minerals sector, Resources Minister Shane Jones says.

When the Government took office in October 2023, regulator New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals (NZP&M) had a backlog of 311 minerals applications, including 162 that had been awaiting an outcome for more than a year. That backlog has now been largely cleared, with only two applications awaiting the resolution of external matters before they can progress.

I made a commitment to the sector that we would deliver a permitting system that is efficient, responsive and focused on enabling responsible development, and these results demonstrate the progress that has been made, Mr Jones says.

Clearing this backlog has been a major achievement by NZP&M. It means applicants can have greater certainty when planning new projects and make investment decisions with confidence.

Interest in New Zealand's minerals sector has continued to grow, with application volumes reaching record levels and NZP&M delivering a record number of permitting outcomes.

New and change applications for minerals permits including prospecting, exploration and mining permits, increased from 296 in 2023 to 450 in 2024 and 551 in 2025. In the first seven months of 2026, a further 342 applications had been received. NZP&M also delivered record numbers of minerals permitting decisions, including 498 outcomes in 2024 and 521 outcomes in 2025.

This is what an open-for-business approach looks like in practice: a permitting system that gives investors confidence, supports regional growth, and helps turn New Zealand's natural resource potential into economic opportunities, jobs, and prosperity.

The Government has been clear that New Zealand is open for business, and that approach is helping create the conditions for growth and investment, Mr Jones says.

A wide range of factors influence activity in the minerals sector, including global commodity prices, investor confidence, access to capital, geological prospectivity and broader regulatory settings. While we cannot control all of these factors, we can ensure New Zealand has a permitting system that is efficient, predictable and supports responsible development.

Throughout this period of increased demand, NZP&M has continued to prioritise timely and fair decision-making. Applications are being assessed to ensure decisions are made on their individual merits and in accordance with the law.

However, the quality of applications remains one of the biggest factors influencing how quickly decisions can be made. Well-prepared applications containing complete technical, financial and operational information can be assessed more efficiently, providing benefits for both applicants and the wider system. I encourage the sector to continue to put their best foot forward.

NZP&M currently administers 1057 minerals permits and licences, an increase of 11.5 percent on the same time last year. Performance data shows NZP&M decided 100 percent of relevant petroleum applications and 94 per cent of relevant minerals applications within targeted timeframes in 2024/25. In 2025/26, 100 percent of relevant petroleum applications and 75 percent of relevant minerals applications were decided within targeted timeframes.