Proposed New Minerals Exploration Regime
The regime for minerals exploration is about to be overhauled with the publication of a draft consultation paper and background document by the Crown Minerals Unit of the Ministry of Economic Development (MED). The draft Crown Minerals (Minerals & Coal) Minerals Programme 2006 (MCMP) will replace the previous Minerals Programme for Coal, and the Minerals Programme for Minerals other than Coal and Petroleum, both issued in 1996. The document establishes the policies and procedures to be used by Crown Minerals for the management of the national mineral estate over the coming 10 years.
It has been designed to:
- increase competition for prospective acreage;
- simplify the royalty regime;
- better align the programme with the Crown Minerals Act and subsequent regulations; and
- reduce compliance costs.
It does not deal with environmental issues connected with mineral allocation, which are regulated under the Resource Management Act.
See also:
http://www.crownminerals.govt.nz/
Contact for Enquiries
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526, Wellington
Tel: +64 4 894 0100
Fax: +64 4 894 0720
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