Energy and natural resources law in New Zealand: an eventful forty years

Abstract

The development of energy law, natural resources law and climate change law in New Zealand is considered over the period from the early 1980s to the early 2020s. The political and economic background of the period is described in order to understand the evolution of these fields of law. Specifically examined are the Māori dimension, oil and gas, mining, electricity, environment and climate change. In respect of legal practice, legal education and research, the particular characteristics of law in these fields is discussed and compared with the equivalents in other countries.