Speaking at the Advantage NZ: 2013 Petroleum Conference, Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges announced the Block Offer 2013 was an important step towards realising the potential of New Zealand's oil and gas resources.
Block Offer 2013 included 189,000sq km of offshore and more than 1500sq km of onshore area.
The following areas would be open for bidding on May 24:
• Three defined onshore blocks in Taranaki;
• Two defined onshore blocks on the East Coast of the North Island;
• Three offshore release areas in the Reinga-Northland Basins, Taranaki Basin and the Great South-Canterbury Basins.
Otago Chamber of Commerce president Peter McIntyre welcomed the news of the extra release areas in the Great South-Canterbury Basins and said it had to be good for the local economy if oil or gas was found.
Safety measures would be in place to stop undesirable effects happening, as much as possible.
''This will go some way to allaying the fears and concerns the environmentalists may have. Everyone cares about the environment but we don't want cowboys in the industry. These latest blocks allow opportunities for the large companies.''
The chamber's long-term goal was to replicate in Otago what Taranaki had achieved with its low unemployment rate, high wage and salaries and the ability to attract young people to the region to work, Mr McIntyre said.
Mr Bridges said significant improvements to the regulatory regime were under way.
''The Government is committed to creating jobs and lifting economic growth, but not at any cost. We want to be sure than any development of our oil and gas resources is done efficiently, safely and in an environmentally-responsible way.''
Permits awarded from Block Offer 2013 would be governed by the new Crown Ministers Act regime which came into force on May 21, he said.
The new Act provided for a significantly improved and streamlined two-tier system for permit management and put into action recommendations of the Pike River Royal Commission.
New Zealand Petroleum & Minerals general manager David Binnie said a mixture of exploration, appraisal and frontier acreage had been selected to appeal to a diverse range of companies.
For the offshore areas, companies could define and apply for a permit area up to a limit of 10,000sq km in frontier areas and up to 2500sq km in the offshore Taranaki Basin.
Before finalising areas to be included in the offer, NZ Petroleum & Minerals consulted with iwi and councils geographically associated with the areas. Meetings were held with both iwi and councils before and during the formal consultation period.
The Green Party condemned the Government for announcing the tender process for new permits as much of the area was in deep water, Green co-leader Metiria Turei said. The Government was putting the economic interests of the oil companies over the environmental values of the people of New Zealand.
''The Government's argument of an economic boon are rubbish. There is little evidence that there would be many jobs from these deep sea rigs and they put at risk the local economies if there is a spill.''
Exploratory drilling might sound harmless, but it was the riskiest phase of oil development. The Gulf of Mexico oil spill disaster was from an exploratory well, she said.
''If there is a leak from a deep sea oil rig there is no easy way to stop it. The consequence for New Zealand's environment, economy and reputation would be catastrophic.''
