Pursuant to section 19 of the Crown Minerals Act 1991,
I hereby give notice that the Governor-General of
New Zealand by Order in Council dated the 30th day
of January 2008, has issued the Minerals Programme for Minerals (Excluding Petroleum) 2008 ("the programme"), with the programme to take effect from 1 February 2008.
The programme establishes the policies, procedures and provisions to be applied in respect of the allocation
and management of minerals (excluding petroleum), in particular:
(a) the efficient allocation of rights in respect of
Crown-owned minerals; and
(b) the Crown obtaining a fair financial return from its minerals.
The following are included within the programme:
- Things the programme does to recognise and respect
the Crown's responsibility to have regard to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi in connection
with the administration of Crown-owned mineral and coal resources.
- The procedures for how the Crown will consult with iwi and hapu as a treaty partner in relation to the issue of new permits, changes to permits and permit allocation by competitive tender.
- Policy, procedures, and methods of allocating mineral permits and for changes to mineral permits, including matters to be considered when evaluating applications.
- Royalty provisions for minerals and coal production.
- A detailed summary of the reasons for and against adopting the allocation framework.
- A detailed summary of the reasons for and against adopting the royalty regime.
The programme replaces the Minerals Programme for Minerals Other Than Coal and Petroleum and the Minerals Programme for Coal that were issued to take effect from
1 October 1996.
The programme applies to all initial permit applications for minerals (excluding petroleum) received by the Crown from 1 February 2008 onwards.
Existing permit holders may however elect to transfer to the policies, procedures and provisions of the new programme should they so desire.
An electronic copy of the programme can be accessed from the Crown Minerals website
www.crownminerals.govt.nz
Further information and hard copies of the programme can be obtained by calling the Crown Minerals on Freephone 0508 CMESTATE (0508 263 782) or by email
crown.minerals@med.govt.nz
Dated this 30th day of January 2008.
HON. HARRY DUYNHOVEN, Associate Minister of Energy, on behalf of the Minister of Energy.