Fill in the Access arrangement application form (PDF, 175K) or (DOCX, 294K).Email the form along with the relevant documents requested to exploration and mining.Fill in the Minimum impact activity application form (PDF, 218K) or (DOCX, 162K).Apply for permissionįollow the relevant process below for your activity. Your DOC contact can advise you what permission(s) you are likely to need during your pre-application meeting.

Concession – for any secondary activity that would be located outside of your Access arrangement and/or the boundary of your New Zealand Petroleum and Minerals permit eg, an easement for an access/haul road.Wildlife authorisation – for any activity that involves interacting with wildlife such as catching, handling, transferring, releasing or killing wildlife.Access arrangement – for any prospecting, exploration or mining activity that is not a minimum impact activity.These are usually for activities such as aerial surveying, sampling and surveying using hand held methods only. Minimum impact activity consent – for activities that fit the definition of a minimum impact activity in the Crown Minerals Act.There are four types of permission you are likely to need for mining related activities. see the relevant conservation management strategies and conservation management plans to see how the public conservation land concerned is managed.See maps and datasets for maps showing the status of conservation land.

check whether or not the land is listed as having restricted access in Schedule 4 of the Crown Minerals Act.

Often this consultation can enhance the activity you are considering. If you wish, DOC can help you contact the local iwi, hapū, and whānau to assess whether your proposed activity will have any cultural effects.

Understand DOC’s responsibility to give effect to the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, which requires consultation with Treaty Partners on most applications.

Navigate our statutory planning documents, so you can consider whether the activity you wish to undertake is consistent with them.

Understand the permission you will need to apply for.

It’s a good idea to discuss your proposal with our specialist mining staff in the Hokitika office before lodging your application.

If you plan to mine in the Coastal Marine Area you will only require permission from DOC if the land is also public conservation land.

Extraction of sand, shingle, or other natural material in the bed of a river or lake and not referred to in any NZ Petroleum and Minerals Minerals Programme requires a concession from DOC.

Recreational gold fossicking (such as hand panning) doesn’t require permission at public designated gold fossicking areas.

Hand dredge plans pdf