Consultation on a draft critical minerals list for New Zealand

About the consultation

In September 2024, MBIE consulted on a draft critical minerals list for New Zealand. The draft list was developed by Wood Mackenzie. Developing a list of critical minerals is a crucial step to ensure supply and is a key deliverable within the Minerals Strategy for New Zealand to 2040.

Minerals are essential to modern economies; their use in key industries and products supports economic growth and stability, national security, and technological advancement. In New Zealand, we produce many of the minerals we need, such as aggregate for roading and construction. We also import minerals, either as raw materials or within products, such as those used for clean technology, electronics, aviation, and medical equipment.

MBIE asked for feedback on the draft critical minerals list, and specifically on the following questions:

• Have we missed the inclusion of any mineral(s) on the draft Critical Minerals List?
• Have we included any mineral(s) that you think should not be on the list?
• Do you have any further feedback on the list, or the methodology under which it was developed?

Summary submissions

MBIE has summarised the submissions it received during consultation:

Read the full summary of submissions

Key themes from submissions

39 submissions were received from a range of submitters.

The majority of the submissions came from industry participants or groups/bodies (52%), individuals (23%), and environmental and community groups (15%).

The 5 central themes of submissions were summarised by MBIE as:

• inclusion and exclusion of certain minerals – most submitters suggested the inclusion of some minerals such as gold, coal, lithium, garnet, and a few questioned the treatment of sand and aggregate.

• including all strategically and economically important minerals produced in New Zealand – many submitters emphasised the importance of supporting New Zealand's mining industry, highlighting minerals that are already produced domestically, such as gold, silver, iron sands, and coal should be added to the critical minerals list.

• adjusting the methodology and criteria for the list – some submitters suggested that additional rationale should be provided to improve the transparency and understanding of the selection process.

• security of supply challenges – some submitters emphasised the importance of ensuring a secure supply of minerals that are needed for our economic functions, clean technologies, and other uses, including improving consenting processes for minerals.

• risk of increasing the environmental impacts of mining – some submitters commented on the environmental impact of mining, particularly on biodiversity and coastal ecosystems, advocating for a shift toward a regenerative, circular economy (recycling and re-use) rather than continuing the current extractive model.

Submissions

MBIE has now released the submissions it received during consultation:

View the submissions made in response to the draft Critical Minerals List

Next steps

The finalised Critical Minerals List has now been published.

The Government will explore strategic pathways and wider system settings to support the development and supply of the minerals on the list that are, or can be, produced in New Zealand. For the minerals on the list that we don’t produce, we will engage with our international partners to support supply chain resilience.

A Critical Minerals List for New Zealand

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