Large swaths of Otago and Southland will shortly be under aerial survey by low-flying helicopters and planes, part of an $8million minerals survey by the Ministry for Business and Innovation (MBIE).
The Government has come in for criticism in recent weeks from environmentalists for its financial backing of exploration activity into the oil, gas and mining sectors, while climate-change issues have been gaining emphasis around the world.
Australian company Thomson Aviation has this week notified the public it intends to begin operations in Otago and Southland in January.
In some areas they could last through to May.
The fixed-wing aircraft and, at times, helicopters will fly at, respectively, 50m and 35m above the ground, in order to measure magnetic fields and natural radiation characteristics of the ground.
"This will create some noise and may be disturbing for people, or animals on the ground,'' MBIE said in a statement.
Survey flights are allowed only during daylight hours, usually for around three hours, and the aircraft were not expected to spend long periods over any one place.
Around Otago, the flights will be north and south of Dunedin and the western area centred on Queenstown.
Former explorer Glass Earth Gold spent $4million aeromagnetically surveying a 13,000sqkm area to the west of Dunedin in 2007-08.
Mbie said the main aim of the latest survey was to gather data to promote the region to potential mining investors, and generate minerals exploration in the region.
The data would also assist regional authorities to map hazards, such as fault-lines, identify water resources and provide information on climate, soil and geology to support local business.
The Government last May set aside $8million for new data, including $6million for the surveys, which started last month in Nelson and Marlborough and will begin next month around Central Otago and Western Southland.
"Our aim is to get a better understanding of the geology of these regions and identify sites that are worthy of further exploration ... and help attract companies to invest in the region,'' MBIE said.
MBIE's permitting agency New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals has also in recent years undertaken separate, shipborne seismic surveys, similarly, to attract oil and gas explorers to New Zealand.
Nine new oil and gas permits were announced this week.
