Foreword

Minerals are essential for our way of life and enable nearly every aspect of our modern world. They are at the heart of key sectors that drive New Zealand’s economy, including infrastructure, construction, agriculture, manufacturing, medical equipment, and information technology. Some of our regions have been built on mineral developments, and they are still the heart and fabric of many of our communities.

The numbers don’t lie – the minerals sector is a small but mighty part of New Zealand’s productive output. The value of mineral exports for the year to June 2023 was $1.46 billion. The sector creates job opportunities, supports local businesses, and generates substantial tax revenue that funds infrastructure, healthcare, and education.

We have barely scratched the surface when it comes to our potential. This strategy will focus our efforts towards a clear goal, and ensure we have the foundations in place to enable the sector to meet our ambition. The delivery roadmap within our strategy will be updated annually, to lead us on an export-led growth pathway to double the value of our mineral exports to $3 billion by 2035.

Gold and coal are the main drivers of economic activity for the minerals sector in New Zealand. With continued growth, they will remain the backbone of our sector. But our geology means we have a varied mineral endowment. There is potential for us to develop critical minerals, including those needed for new technologies and a clean energy transition. The International Energy Agency estimates that to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, the world will need 6 times more minerals for low emissions technology than are currently being extracted. Production of electric vehicles, batteries, wind turbines and solar panels are already driving significant minerals demand. This will only increase.

We have a choice to make – do we contribute to and benefit from this growing market, or do we become the recipients of other countries’ economic effort and output?

I want New Zealand to be part of the solution. I want us to contribute to resilient and sustainable global minerals supply chains. We can do it on our terms, with a light touch on the environment, high employment standards, and consistent with Treaty of Waitangi settlements and commitments. The environmental impacts of mining can and will be managed to the highest standard. The sector is now at the forefront of innovation. Precision has replaced estimation, enabled by cutting-edge technology.

We are taking an active, deliberate and coordinated approach for the sector that will take us from ‘open for business’ to ‘doing business’. This strategy will guide business investment and inform regulatory design.

Ultimately, we want to build the foundations of a minerals sector that delivers for New Zealanders, now and into the future, by supporting a productive and resilient economy through responsible and sustainable practices.

Hon Shane Jones
Minister for Resources

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