New Zealand Extends Kermadec Arc Mineral Restrictions for Two More Years

The decision, confirmed by Resources Minister Shane Jones, means that restrictions on issuing new mineral permits in the area will remain in place until at least January 2028.

The New Zealand Government has announced a further two-year extension of the long-standing reservation over the Kermadec Arc, a vast and environmentally significant marine region north of the country. The decision, confirmed by Resources Minister Shane Jones, means that restrictions on issuing new mineral permits in the area will remain in place until at least January 2028.

The reservation was first established in 2010 under the Crown Minerals Act 1991 and has been periodically renewed to ensure careful management of the region’s sensitive ecosystems. It prohibits the granting or extension of permits for prospecting, exploration, or mining of any minerals other than petroleum across an extensive 412,690 km² area of seabed and subsoil within the Kermadec Ridge system.

Minister Jones emphasised that the Kermadec Arc is both an ecological treasure and a potential economic opportunity for New Zealand. The ridge system hosts rare hydrothermal vents, deep-sea habitats, and species found nowhere else on Earth. At the same time, scientific assessments indicate that the area may contain substantial deposits of critical minerals—including copper, zinc, and gold—materials increasingly in demand for the global shift toward clean energy technologies such as electric vehicles, solar panels, and batteries.

“Global interest in the minerals on and under the ocean’s seabed is growing,” Jones noted. “Our approach to managing a significant opportunity like the Kermadec Arc needs to be informed and strategic.”

The Government’s Minerals Strategy for New Zealand to 2040 places strong emphasis on building a robust evidence base around the country’s mineral resources. The extension of the reservation is intended to provide the time needed to enhance scientific data collection, refine environmental research, and evaluate potential development pathways. According to Jones, these steps are essential to ensuring that any future decisions—whether to maintain protections or to allow limited mineral activity—are grounded in sound analysis, environmental safeguards, and a clear understanding of the benefits to New Zealanders.

The renewed reservation will come into force on 5 January 2026 and remain active until 4 January 2028. At the end of this period, the Minister for Resources will review the latest research and advice before determining whether a further reservation is required.