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Mining, Oil & Gas

Tackling complex challenges

In an industry where every project can present unique challenges, our specialised teams in mining, oil and gas work alongside our clients to navigate the obstacles and get the outcomes sought by our clients.

We advise on all aspects of projects in the sector, from permitting, land access and resource/marine consenting, project design and construction, processing, transportation and storage arrangements, and sale of the resources.

Our team of lawyers are experts on the applicable regulatory frameworks and have good working relationships with the regulators. This includes working with New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals, the regulator that administers the mining and oil and gas permits, as well as the Overseas Investment Office which administers government consent to foreign investment in New Zealand.

Mining

Mining and quarrying projects continue to represent strategic commercial opportunities in New Zealand – if they can navigate the regulatory environment effectively. We provide advice in permitting, royalty arrangements, resource consenting, construction, commercial contracting and regulatory requirements. We act for parties across the sector, including mine owners/operators, local councils and parties acquiring minerals from mining operations.

Our experience includes advising:

  • Securing consent for Newmont for the Correnso Underground Mine.
  • A UK company on the acquisition of rights to mine the Tatu coal mines.
  • On potential acquisitions of coal mines (including Xinghuo and Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry).
  • R C MacDonald Investments on New Zealand's first coalbed demethanation mining permit and work programme.
  • Winstone Aggregates in relation to their Three Kings, Belmont, Otaika, Hunua, Symonds Hill and Pokeno quarries.
  • The Higgins Group in relation to the Maraekakaho Quarry and The Stevenson Group in relation to Drury quarry.
  • Gore District Council on the consenting and strategic planning issues related to Solid Energy's lignite proposals in Gore.

Oil and Gas

We work with clients whose projects span from upstream oil and gas operations, to midstream and downstream gas and fuels, arrangements. We work with national and international participants in the sector, including Mobil Oil New Zealand, Genesis Energy, Vector and Origin Energy.

Our experience includes advising:

  • Origin Energy on oil and gas contractual arrangements, including processing agreements, pipeline access arrangements, drilling and option arrangements, and royalty sharing agreements as well as on regulatory issues.
  • Divestment of interests in petroleum licences and associated production and transportation facilities.
  • Gas clients on connection and balancing issues associated with connection to the Maui gas transmission pipelines.
  • Multi-national operator on the establishment of its oil and gas operations in New Zealand.
  • Mobil Oil on its retail fuel operations in New Zealand.
  • Todd Energy in a dispute as to off-take rules in relation to the Pohokura field.
  • Gas clients during due diligence of risks arising from joint venture agreements.
  • On disputes over joint venture agreements, including obtaining interim relief against the removal of a field operator, and seeking interim relief in support of arbitration in relation to repudiation of a joint venture agreement.
  • On arbitrations as to quantities and pricing of gas available under Gas Supply Agreements.
  • On judicial review of decisions under the Crown Minerals Act.
  • On technical and commercial disputes, eg under drilling contracts, arising in relation to field exploration or mining operations.