Public consultation and identifying existing rights and interests
Public consultation has played a key role in developing the offshore renewable energy regime and it will continue to be a priority.
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The Offshore Renewable Energy Regulations 2026 requires developers to provide information on any identified holders of existing rights or interests in the areas where the projects are proposed, in their application for a feasibility permit.
Developers must also provide information on how they intend to identify any further holders of rights and interests and how they have engaged or intend to engage with the holders of rights and interests in the permit area.
The Minister must take this information into account when determining an application. The Offshore Renewable Energy Act 2026 also requires the Minister to provide the public with an opportunity to make submissions on proposed developments before determining feasibility permit applications.
Opportunity to provide feedback
After the application round has closed, we will publish summaries of the proposed developments being considered for the award of feasibility permits. This information will help the public to provide submissions on the proposed developments during the public submission process.
Public submission process
We will seek public submissions on the proposed projects as part of our application assessment process.
This will help:
- improve our understanding of the potential impacts of the developments
- inform our recommendation to the Minister for Energy, who decides whether to grant a feasibility permit and what conditions to impose.
This consultation will take place after feasibility applications close and the public will be provided with a reasonable time to make submissions on proposed developments. Further information on the public submissions process and timing will be provided in due course.
Identifying existing rights and interests
As part of their application, developers must provide information on:
- any holders of rights and interests in the permit area known to the developer at the time of the application and the expected or potential impacts of the proposed development on those parties
- how they will identify any further holders of rights and interests in the proposed permit area
- how they have engaged or will engage with holders of rights and interests in the proposed permit area
- how they will assess rights and interests in the proposed permit area.
Subsequent feedback opportunities
Once a feasibility permit is granted, developers may need to apply for additional consents to undertake feasibility studies.
Before a developer can construct or operate an offshore renewable energy development, they must apply for and obtain a commercial permit under the Offshore Renewable Energy Act 2026.
Additional consents may also be required at these stages under other legislation, such as marine or environmental consents under the Resource Management Act 1991. These consent processes may have their own public consultation requirements.
Public consultation on developing the regime
Learn about the public consultation we carried out during the development of the regime.