The beleaguered resource sector can take some positives from Minister for Energy and Resources Simon Bridges, who has not ruled out more streamlining of resource consents processing, which has hamstrung or delayed some operations.
He also announced more competitive block offers for the industry, yesterday opening about 8000sq km in the central North Island in the Bay of Plenty and Waikato for epithermal gold exploration, and confirmed aerial geological data collated over the West Coast would be released this week.
Also, a platinum block offer in the South island would formally be announced later in the year, in an effort to spur interest and exploration, following iwi and community consultation.
Mr Bridges addressed the annual New Zealand branch conference of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) in Nelson yesterday, where the more than 370 delegates are facing difficult times with rising costs, falling global commodity prices and lack of investment capital.
Many have said this cycle has been worse than the global financial crisis.
''The industry has copped some flack for being boom and bust. But that's not backed up by facts,'' Mr Bridges said.
Exploration expenditure for 2012 was at a record $50 million for the year, with $20 million in royalty payments, up to 8000 jobs and more than $1 billion contribution to gross domestic product.
Mr Bridges is the fourth energy and resources minister in five years, which has raised questions about whether National is giving the sector its full attention.
Mr Bridges told delegates the Government ''has been forthright'' with the sector, and saw plenty of opportunities, despite lay-offs related to falling commodity prices, and the sector was part of its economic recovery plan.
''It [the mining sector] is not one silver bullet, but an arrow in the quiver to achieve economic benefits,'' Mr Bridges said.
At present, resource consents can come under five separate sets of legislation, meaning expensive and time-consuming applications, many of which could be appealed.
When asked about streamlining this process, Mr Bridges said it would be ''nice to have one super-law'' covering all.
''It has not been good enough, when the [resource consent] process becomes the story,'' Mr Bridges said of Bathurst Resources' more-than-two-year battle through court challenges to get its Denniston plateau site to the production stage.
However, he said changes to the Crown Mineral Act had been made and the Resource Management Act was under review.
Mr Bridges said there were about 1000 exploration and mining permits across the country and a further 134 permit applications being processed.
Opening up the Bay of Plenty-Waikato block offer yesterday drew condemnation from Green Party mining spokeswoman Catherine Delahunty, who said the Government was ''further tarnishing '' the country's clean, green reputation.
''Gold mining in our conservation estate is no path to prosperity for our communities. Many jobs in the central North Island, such as agriculture and tourism, rely on our 100% Pure brand,'' Ms Delahunty said in a statement.
Mr Bridges said an earlier block offer in Northland, in 2012, by permitting agency New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals saw five exploration permits offered to three companies in the tender area.
''We're confident that the mining industry will experience future growth,'' Mr Bridges said.
• Business Reporter Simon Hartley is a guest of AusIMM
