The government's goal is for responsible development of both renewable and non-renewable energy resources. Developing a mix of energy options positions New Zealand for higher economic growth and a lower-emissions future.
Read about the government’s energy priorities in the New Zealand Energy Strategy 2011-2021.
Oil is a major export earner for the country and gas is an important input into the domestic economy. Through the work of the Petroleum Action Plan, New Zealand will have a world-leading system for managing oil and gas exploration and production.
New Zealand is a mineral rich country, with a large variety of mineral deposits. Given the size of the potential, the environmentally responsible development of our resource could be important to our economy.
Geothermal energy is extracted from heat deep beneath the earth’s surface. New Zealand is particularly rich in geothermal energy. Read a background and history of geothermal energy use in New Zealand.