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Crown Minerals Act 1991

Permits, access to land, and other matters - Permits, access to land, and title notations - Conditions of permits

35A: Appraisal extension of exploration permits

You could also call this:

"Asking for more time to explore an area you think might have minerals"

Illustration for Crown Minerals Act 1991

If you have an exploration permit, you can ask the Minister for more time to explore the area. This is called an appraisal extension. You can ask for this extension so you can learn more about what you have discovered and the Minister can give you up to 4 more years to do this. You can do this by following the rules in section 36(1) to (4). The Minister will only say yes if they think you have found something that could lead to a mining permit, you do not have enough time to learn about it with your current permit, and your plan for learning about it is good.

If the Minister says yes, the extra time only applies to the part of the permit area where they think the discovery is. If you get an appraisal extension, you can ask for another one, but only once. The Minister will look at your request in the same way they looked at your first request.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM5228925.

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35: Duration of permit, or

"How long your mining or exploration permit lasts"

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35B: Conditions imposing relinquishment obligation: prospecting permits, or

"Rules for giving up land when you have a prospecting permit"

Part 1BPermits, access to land, and other matters
Permits, access to land, and title notations: Conditions of permits

35AAppraisal extension of exploration permits

  1. The holder of an exploration permit may apply to the Minister, in accordance with section 36(1) to (4), for an extension to the duration of the permit (an appraisal extension) so as to appraise the extent and characteristics of a discovery and the Minister may grant an extension for that purpose for any period the Minister considers necessary, up to a maximum of 4 years.

  2. However, the Minister may grant an appraisal extension under subsection (1) only if the Minister is satisfied that—

  3. the permit holder has made a discovery that has the potential to lead to the granting of a mining permit; and
    1. the current specified duration of the exploration permit does not allow sufficient time to appraise the discovery; and
      1. the work programme in relation to the appraisal is adequate.

        1. If the Minister grants an appraisal extension, it must be restricted to the land in the permit to which the Minister determines it is likely that the discovery relates.

        2. A permit holder granted an appraisal extension under subsection (1) may apply to the Minister once only for a further appraisal extension, and subsection (1) applies as if the reference to an appraisal extension were a reference to a further appraisal extension.

        Notes
        • Section 35A: inserted, on , by section 27 of the Crown Minerals Amendment Act 2013 (2013 No 14).