Let mining grow

Let mining grow is the message for the Government elected on 7 November, says New Zealand Minerals Council chief executive Josie Vidal.

Today the minerals council is sending its Election 2026 manifesto to all Members of Parliament, outlining how the mining industry can grow its contribution to the economy, jobs, conservation efforts, and regional communities.

“We believe mining is a ray of light in the economy and the Government should support growth,” Vidal says. “Minerals export earnings are at $3.1 billion, having doubled since 2023, and now represent 2.7% of New Zealand total goods exports. That puts them ahead of many iconic export sectors such as wine and seafood.

“The sector employs 5,870 people (2024), up 11% from 2023, and with the mines in the pipeline more than 1,500 new jobs can be expected. These are high wage jobs and the sector is one of the most productive in the economy.

“It is important for responsible decision makers to look at facts and evidence to assess the economic value of mining,” Vidal says. “We advocate for policy and law that enables investment and growth, so that New Zealand can make the most of its resources, within reasonable guardrails.

“In an increasingly volatile world, it is important to show we have stable Government and the ideal is cross-party agreement from the main political parties on impactful issues, allowing for clarity and confidence for businesses, investors, and trading partners.

“There is a lot of international interest in mining in New Zealand and in 2025 there were 551 mining exploration applications compared with 450 in 2024. That doesn’t mean there is going to be a mine on every corner because not every exploration permit ends in a mine. But there are some serious contenders that will bring jobs and money into our economy. They pay taxes, royalties and rates here, and support businesses that supply goods and services.

“While politicians are influenced by public perceptions, it is important they realise that research shows a sizeable majority of New Zealanders think mining is important to the economy and they would prefer New Zealand to mine its own minerals over importing them.

“We want the next Government to understand mining is not a threat to high value conservation land; the seabed can be mined responsibly, and New Zealand has a significant scientific and technical contribution to make to managing its environmental impact; and that gold, coal and other critical minerals we have here should be mined responsibly to contribute to global supply, so that quality of life can improve for all.

“The best path forward is a lighter touch from Government and continued engagement by decision makers with the mining sector and experts in the field,” Vidal says.