You may need this licence if you intend to explore for minerals and take samples of or recover minerals in coastal waters for any of the following purposes:
- a scientific investigation
- a reconnaissance survey
- the collection of small amounts of minerals.
A reconnaissance survey is the exploration of an area to work out whether the area is sufficiently promising to justify more detailed exploration under an exploration licence.
Special purpose consents may be granted over the following blocks even if the block area is already subject to a licence or another consent:
- standard block
- reserved block
- tender block.