AM Edition: Here are the top 10 energy articles on LiveNews.co.nz for March 25, 2026 – Full Text
Prospecting application targets frontier acreage
March 25, 2026
Source: New Zealand Government
A new prospecting permit application in the offshore Canterbury Basin signals renewed sector confidence in pursuing opportunities in New Zealand’s search for oil and gas, Resources Minister Shane Jones says.
New Zealand Petroleum & Minerals (NZP&M) has today opened a three-month competitive process for an application submitted by CBX Energy Limited. The proposal outlines a programme of technical and economic studies, including work on a comprehensive Canterbury Basin development strategy.
“The Canterbury Basin, off the east coast of the South Island, is one of New Zealand’s 18 sedimentary basins with known or potential hydrocarbons. It has long been viewed as a promising but largely untapped opportunity,” Mr Jones says.
“The basin remains far less explored than comparable regions overseas, highlighting how much potential is still to be tested.
“Further prospecting and exploration in the Canterbury Basin could unlock new domestic energy resources, strengthening New Zealand’s long‑term energy resilience and creating valuable economic opportunities.”
NZP&M will accept competing applications until 5pm, 24 June. Applications will be prioritised in accordance with the criteria set out in the Minerals Programme for Petroleum 2025. A permit may be awarded in response to the best application that also meets requirements of the Crown Minerals Act 1991. A petroleum prospecting permit is an early‑stage, low‑impact permit that allows a company to search for evidence of petroleum/oil and gas.
Since the removal of the petroleum exploration ban in late 2025, two exploration permit applications have already progressed through the competitive process and are now under assessment, with decisions expected later this year.
For more information see: Applications under the open market competitive process – New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals
LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/24/prospecting-application-targets-frontier-acreage/
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Easy ways to avoid oil discharges
March 25, 2026
Source: Maritime New Zealand
Vessels can discharge oily water that causes harm to the oceans and rivers we depend on for our livelihoods and wellbeing.
New Zealand’s latest state of the environment report – Our environment 2025 – outlines how our marine and freshwater environments are being affected by pollution, climate change, and resource depletion. So, please take responsibility for minimising pollution from your vessels.
Even clean bilges can contain oily water mixtures. By taking simple steps, we can protect our precious marine and freshwater environments by minimising any oil being discharged overboard:
- maintain your engine to minimise leaks, and have a drip pan to catch any drips
- use sorbent pads in your bilge to protect the environment by ensuring any surface oil is ‘mopped up’ (when no longer usable, take sorbents ashore to be disposed of responsibly)
- install a float switch in a position where it can automatically stop discharge before any floating oil can be sucked up by a bilge pump.
It doesn’t take much to help keep our waters clean.
Find out more about the state of our marine and freshwater environments
LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/24/easy-ways-to-avoid-oil-discharges/
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Government widens fuel supply options
March 25, 2026
Source: New Zealand Government
The Government is taking practical steps to strengthen New Zealand’s fuel resilience by temporarily allowing fuel that meets Australian specifications to be supplied to the New Zealand market, Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones says.
“In a tight global fuel market, flexibility matters. Countries that can access a wider range of shipments are better placed to keep fuel flowing. This decision removes unnecessary technical barriers and helps ensure New Zealand isn’t excluded from available supply our neighbours across the Tasman are accessing,” Mr Jones says.
The temporary alignment will open up more options for fuel importers by allowing fuel refined to Australian specifications to be supplied domestically.
“The change reduces the risk of supply disruptions driven purely by technical specification differences. Fuel companies have told us this could allow them to secure shipments more quickly and from a wider pool of suppliers.
“Our fuel specifications are already very similar to Australia’s. Fuel refined to Australian standards is compatible with New Zealand vehicles and meets safety and quality expectations.”
New Zealand will not, at this stage, be following Australia’s lead and relaxing standards to allow higher sulphur fuel. Australia has made the decision so it can access high-sulphur fuel from its Brisbane refinery.
“However, we will keep an eye on whether further changes to fuel specifications could open up further supply channels if necessary,” Mr Jones says.
“This is a sensible, time‑limited step that gives importers access to a broader range of fuel shipments, including those already in our region.
“We are closely monitoring market conditions and will keep under review any further practical measures that could strengthen New Zealand’s fuel supply resilience while global conditions remain uncertain.”
The temporary alignment with Australian specifications could remain in place for up to 12 months if needed.
Editors’ note:
Fuel specifications set the minimum technical and environmental requirements that petrol, diesel and other transport fuels must meet before they can be supplied in New Zealand. Each country has its own fuel specifications.
Where there are differences in fuel specifications for the purpose of catering to different climatic conditions, this is dealt with by the requirement that fuel sold in New Zealand must still be ‘fit for common purpose’. For example, this means diesel for hot climates cannot be sold in very cold ones.
LiveNews: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/03/23/government-widens-fuel-supply-options/
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