Central & SE Asia / Australasia
Country profile: New Zealand
| Location: | Oceania, islands in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of Australia |
| Climate: | temperate with sharp regional contrasts |
| Terrain: | predominately mountainous with some large coastal plains |
| Size: | 268680 sq. km total (Land area: 268021 sq. km ) |
| Population: | 4,173,460 (July 2008 est.) |
| Languages: | English (official), Maori (official), Sign Language (official) |
| Government: | parliamentary democracy |
| Capital city: | Wellington |
| Legal system: | based on English law, with special land legislation and land courts for the Maori; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations |
| Currency: | New Zealand dollar (NZD) |
| Licensing: |
Country profile
The Polynesian Maori reached New Zealand in about A.D. 800. In 1840, their chieftains entered into a compact with Britain, the Treaty of Waitangi, in which they ceded sovereignty to Queen Victoria while retaining territorial rights. In that same year, the British began the first organized colonial settlement. A series of land wars between 1843 and 1872 ended with the defeat of the native peoples.
The British colony of New Zealand became an independent dominion in 1907 and supported the UK militarily in both World Wars. New Zealand's full participation in a number of defense alliances lapsed by the 1980s. In recent years, the government has sought to address longstanding Maori grievances.
Energy production and consumption
| Oil | Gas | |
| Production: | 25,880 bbl/day (2006 est.) | 3 billion cu m (2006 est.) |
| Consumption: | 156,000 bbl/day (2006 est.) | 3 billion cu m (2006 est.) |
| Exports: | 15,720 bbl/day (2006 est.) | |
| Imports: | 140,900 bbl/day (2006 est.) | |
| Reserves: | 55 million bbl (1 January 2006 est.) | 29 billion cu m (1 January 2006 est.) |
| Major fields: |
New Zealand - recent news
| 22 Oct 26 |
New Zealand: Nordex Group enters New Zealand market with 192 MW order from Mercury The Nordex Group has received its first order from New Zealand. Mercury, one of New Zealand’s major electricity generation and retail companies, has ordered 40 N133/4.8 wind turbines with a total capacity of 192 MW for a wind farm in the Otago region of New Zealand’s South Island. In addition, Mercury and Nordex have concluded a comprehensive service agreement covering a period of 30 years. |
| 20 Oct 26 |
New Zealand: First offshore renewable energy feasibility permit application round now open New Zealand's first offshore renewable energy feasibility permit application round is now open following the publication of the Offshore Renewable Energy Feasibility Permit Application Round Notice 2026. |
| 14 Oct 26 |
New Zealand: Sunda Energy announces update on New Zealand exploration permit application Sunda Energy, the AIM-quoted exploration and appraisal company focused on gas assets in the Asia-Pacific region, has updated that its application for an exploration permit within the offshore area of the Taranaki Basin on the west coast of New Zealand’s North Island has now become exclusive. |
| 04 Oct 26 |
New Zealand: Monumental Energy discusses the onshore Mauku block inside the Tirua Petroleum Exploration Permit (PEP 61554) Monumental Energy has engaged Darkstar Capital, a Toronto-based firm, pursuant to a services agreement dated September 28, 2026, effective October 1, 2026, to assist with investor outreach and market awareness efforts. |
| 02 Sep 26 |
New Zealand: Methanex to sell substantially all of its New Zealand natural gas contractual entitlements Methanex has entered into an agreement to sell substantially all of its New Zealand natural gas contractual entitlements commencing in the first quarter of 2027 and continuing through the end of the decade when such entitlements expire. Given the continued decline in domestic natural gas availability and the lack of a clear pathway to meaningful new supply, Methanex has determined that continued operations in New Zealand are not sustainable. |
New Zealand - more news
Other countries in this region
- Australia,
- Bangladesh,
- Brunei,
- Cambodia,
- China,
- Fiji,
- Hong Kong,
- India,
- Indonesia,
- Japan,
- Laos,
- Malaysia,
- Maldives,
- Mongolia,
- Myanmar,
- Nepal,
- North Korea,
- Pakistan,
- Palau,
- Papua New Guinea,
- Philippines,
- Singapore,
- South Korea,
- Sri Lanka,
- Taiwan,
- Thailand,
- Timor Leste,
- Vietnam
