Platinum exploration at six South Island sites covering 4422sq km of land is being thrown open to competitive tendering by Government permitting agency New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals (NZPM).
The Government was at present consulting local authorities and iwi with possible concerns of ''particular sensitivity'' about the locations, which were in Southland, the West Coast, Nelson and Kaikoura, general manager of NZPM David Binnie said.
Sensitive conservation areas - protected under schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act - and World Heritage Sites had been excluded from the proposed tender areas, he said.
''Platinum is an exciting commodity offering good potential for exploration and investment in New Zealand,'' Mr Binnie said in a statement.
An exploration permit could be issued for six years but extended for a maximum of 10.
However, if mining were to go ahead a separate permit would be required.
Bids will be sought between September and March and permits offered to successful companies in June next year.
Initial exploration activities include land-based and aerial surveys, geological mapping, geochemical sampling of rocks, and exploratory test drilling.
