EnergyReader · 2026-08-02 07:20

New Zealand Awards First Offshore Permit Since Ardern Drilling Ban Lifted

By EnergyReader Newsroom · August 2, 2026

New Zealand's government awarded its first offshore oil and gas exploration permit since reversing a 2018 drilling ban, with Australia's EnZed Energy Pty Ltd receiving a 12-year licence covering roughly 546 square kilometres in the Taranaki Basin, according to reports published on Wednesday (2026-07-29).

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Connected coverage Stories linked to Australia through the market graph: same hub, spread, route or driver.

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