Supporting the strength and future of New Zealand’s economy
Chapman Tripp’s energy and natural resources practice continues to dominate the field in New Zealand. The team’s knowledge is sweeping – from traditional areas such as electricity, mining, and oil and gas exploration, to the new issues of climate change and water allocation.
Projects range from development of new generation facilities (hydro, geothermal, wind, gas-fired), grid and gas transmission connection, joint venture arrangements and infrastructure investment, through to the subtleties of developing public policy for energy, minerals and the environment. Our team is a cross-practice group of corporate, regulatory, land and resource management lawyers.
We have advised
- Sinochem on New Zealand aspects of its proposed acquisition of all of the shares in Nufarm Limited by way of a scheme of arrangement effected under the Australian Corporations Law.
- Anadarko Petroleum on its acquisition of a 50% interest in two deepwater oil and gas permits (offshore Canterbury), and associated entry into joint venture arrangements with Origin Energy.
- L&M Coal Seam Gas on its reverse takeover of L&M Energy, making L&M Energy New Zealand's biggest coal-seam gas explorer, with 12 exploration permits and market capital value of more than $100 million.
- Global Resource Holdings LLLP and Hyundai Hysco of Korea on their acquisition and development of the largest ever offshore exploration permit in New Zealand.
- Rio Tinto Aluminium and New Zealand Aluminium Smelters on their 18 year electricity price agreement with Meridian Energy for NZAS' Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter.
- Vector on the establishment of a joint venture with Siemens (NZ) to deliver advanced metering technology and operational services to customers throughout New Zealand.
- Meridian Energy on construction, procurement, property and related contracting issues relating to wind farm generation schemes, including Project West Wind (Wellington). Up to 60 wind turbines have been planned, making it currently one of the largest wind farm projects in New Zealand.
- Mighty River Power on a joint venture with Tauhara No. 2 Trust to develop geothermal power generation facilities at Rotokawa and Ngā Tamariki.
- Mighty River Power on the establishment of a landfill gas electricity generation joint venture with HG Leach.
- Ministry of Economic Development on the first and second stages of New Zealand's International Energy Agency oil reserves project.
- Meridian Energy on the consenting, procurement, property and related contracting issues of the proposed hydroelectricity generation scheme to take water from Lake Waitaki through a 34 kilometre tunnel and a power station and discharge the water back into the Waitaki River to generate 200 – 285 megawatts of electricity.
- Mighty River Power in relation to the further development of the Mokai Power Station, including the acquisition of development rights and land interests from Contact Energy.
- ExxonMobil New Zealand (Exploration) on its Great South Basin permit and joint venture arrangements with Todd Energy.
- Vector on its new gas transmission regime governing access to Vector's high pressure gas pipeline system, including fit with the Maui Pipeline Operating Code.
- Vector on regulatory issues affecting the gas sector, including the Emissions Trading Scheme legislation.
- Port Taranaki in relation to the potential establishment of a major liquid gas importation facility.
- Powerco on regulatory matters, including in relation to the control of its gas distribution prices.
- Rio Tinto's Iron Ore Division on its farm-in to an iron sands exploration permit.
- TAG Oil and Trans-Orient Petroleum of Canada on their New Zealand petroleum exploration activities.
- Plains Petroleum and Production on its New Zealand petroleum exploration permits.