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• Energy & Resources

• Recent Updates
• Current Reviews & Consultation
• New Zealand Energy Strategy
• Summary of Energy Policy Initiatives
• Bioprospecting
• Carbon Capture & Storage
• Crown Minerals
• Electricity
• Environment
• Energy Information
• Energy Modelling
• Energy Safety
• Gas
• International Relationships
• Oil & Alternative Fuels
• Water

Demand for energy will inevitably increase over time, putting pressure on our energy supplies and this pressure will be reflected in higher energy prices. The challenge for the Ministry over the medium to long term is to meet New Zealand's energy needs in a way that protects our way of life, economy and the environment. We aim is to maintain an energy system over time that balances three high level outcomes:

• a high level of supply security (short- and long-term), balanced against the costs involved;
• acceptable environmental impact; and
• competitive and efficient pricing (which also reflects the cost of negative aspects of our energy use).

• Recent Updates
  This page summarises new content and recent updates to the "Energy and Resource"' section of the site.
• Current Reviews & Consultation
  Find out more about current reviews, discussion papers, and consultations from the Ministry in relation to "Energy and the Environment".
• New Zealand Energy Strategy
  The government is developing a New Zealand Energy Strategy to 2050 that will put our country firmly on the path to a sustainable, low emissions energy future. On 11 December 2006, a draft strategy and related documents were released for consultation.
• Summary of Energy Policy Initiatives
  This page summarises major energy policy initiatives since 2000, with embeded links to key documents.
• Bioprospecting
  The Ministry is looking at developing a policy framework for bioprospecting activities in New Zealand.
• Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
  A discussion on the development of carbon capture and storage technology (CCS).
• Crown Minerals
  Crown Minerals manages the Crown's petroleum and mineral assets (oil, gas, minerals and coal). Its key objectives are to attract investment in exploration and development, and to maximise the return to the Crown from these assets.
• Electricity
  The Ministry develops and implements policy for the electricity sector, in particular relating to the regulatory framework and governance.
• Environment
  The Ministry provides policy advice on environmental issues with a focus on a business perspective, and the quality of environmental regulation.
• Energy Information
  The Ministry compiles statistics on supply, demand, prices and greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector in order to provide baseline information, to fulfil New Zealand's international reporting obligations and to aid domestic policy development.
• Energy Modelling
  The Ministry undertakes energy modelling to provide projections of future energy supply, demand, prices, and emissions for various scenarios.
• Energy Safety
  The Ministry’s Energy Safety Operations team works with industry to promote and, where necessary, enforce high safety and quality standards in electricity and gas networks, installation systems and products.
• Gas
  The Ministry develops and implements policy for the gas market, including competition issues, supply and demand assessments and regulation of networks.
• International Relationships
  The Ministry maintains close relations with a number of key international energy fora. The most important are the International Energy Agency, APEC Energy Working Council and The Ministerial Council on Mineral and Petroleum Resources
• Oil and Alternative Fuels
  Information on oil prices, oil security, fuel quality and alternative fuels including biofuels.
• Water
  A selection of water based reports including Water Bodies, Geothermal Resources, Hydroelectric Resources and the Waitaki Catchment.