30036 (2023). Hon Dr Megan Woods to the Minister for Resources

30036 (2023). Hon Dr Megan Woods to the Minister for Resources: What is the current level of coal held in New Zealand and how does that compare to the last 15 years?

Hon Shane Jones: Coal is a non-statute mineral and therefore can either be Crown owned or privately owned depending on when the land containing the coal resource was alienated from the Crown. Answering this question, in respect of Crown owned coal, would require a review of every Annual Summary Report provided by each individual permit or licence holder for coal since 2014 (when the requirement to report levels of coal resources and reserves was introduced). I do not consider this a good use of officials’ time. There is no requirement for levels of privately-owned coal to be reported to the Crown.