The sea beds around New Zealand are an important source of oil and gas for domestic use and export. Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) is helping to ensure that the impact of this industry on the marine environment is minimal.
The principal statutes, regulations and rules governing the sector are summarised below.
Oil and gas exploration, development and production can result in discharges of wastes, including:
Types of discharges – table [PDF: 76Kb, 1 page]
To ensure that these wastes are managed responsibly, all offshore oil and gas installations must have a discharge management plan approved by MNZ. These plans are required under Marine Protection Rule Part 200. They include measures for minimising waste and reducing the risk of accidental spills of harmful substances, including oil or chemicals.
Marine Protection Rule – Part 200 is in line with generally accepted international practice for environmental performance of the offshore oil and gas industry.
Discharge Management Plan – Part 200
Marine Protection Rule Part 200
MNZ and the Ministry for the Environment have worked with the oil and gas industry to develop environmental guidelines for the offshore petroleum industry. These best-practice guidelines are voluntary principles to help the oil and gas industry identify, assess and manage all environmental impacts associated with their activities.
Environmental guidelines for the offshore petroleum industry [PDF: 1.07Mb, 14 pages]
To reduce the risk of an accident that could lead to a spill, exclusion zones are put in place around all offshore installations.
The marine area around Taranaki, where much of New Zealand’s oil and gas exploration and production takes place, has been officially declared a precautionary area for shipping.
Offshore installation safety zones and precautionary areas
