Info: Fast-track team offline 25 December 2025 to 4 January 2026
The contact centre closes at midday on 24 December. The application portal and this website remain available throughout the break.
Legal issues hearing
On 11 November 2025, the expert panel issued a notice of hearing for the Taranaki VTM project.
Notice of Hearing (PDF, 311KB)
On 4 November 2025, the expert panel issued Minute 11 regarding the proposed hearing on legal issues. Documents relating to this hearing were circulated to relevant parties and provided below.
Minute 11 of the panel (PDF, 223KB)
The hearing occurred at 9:00am on Wednesday 26 November 2025.
Transcript of legal issues hearing (PDF, 578KB)
Part 1 of a recording of the legal issues hearing that was held for the Taranaki VTM Project on 26 November 2025.
Part 2 of a recording of the legal issues hearing that was held for the Taranaki VTM Project on 26 November 2025.
Part 3 of a recording of the legal issues hearing that was held for the Taranaki VTM Project on 26 November 2025.
Hearing procedures
The hearing procedures set out the rules and timeframe by which the hearing process will ran. They provide information on matters such as communicating with the panel, evidence requirements, and guidelines for the media.
Taranaki VTM hearing procedures (PDF, 129KB)
Written submissions
The EPA received the following submissions.
Ōkahu Inuāwai, Kānihi Umutahi, Ngāti Manuhiakai, Araukuuku, Ngāti Tū, And Te Patutokotoko (PDF, 197KB)
Various Ngaruahine hapu (PDF, 294KB)
Talleys and Seafood NZ (PDF, 122KB)
Environmental Defence Society (PDF, 222KB)
South Taranaki District Council (PDF, 359KB)
Trans-Tasman Resources Limited (PDF, 272KB)
Taranaki Regional Council (PDF, 568KB)
Te Ohu Kai Moana (PDF, 1163 KB)
Te Korowai o Ngāruahine (PDF, 433KB)
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui (PDF, 1096KB)
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui study (PDF, 5193KB)
Te Tōpuni Ngārahu Trust (PDF, 151KB)
Te Tōpuni Ngārahu (PDF, 320KB)
24 November 2025
The panel received a joint memorandum of counsel ahead of the legal issues hearing.
Joint Memorandum of Counsel (PDF, 574KB)
Hawera conference
The documents pre-circulated or presented at the expert panel conference in Hawera on 21–23 October 2025 are provided below.
Minute 8 regarding the conference (PDF, 201KB)
Conference agenda updated 22 October 2025 (PDF, 112KB)
Conference procedures (PDF, 235KB)
A joint memorandum was provided by multiple parties to supplement conference proceedings.
Hawera conference documents
Applicants response to Hawera Conference matters
Memorandum of Counsel for Trans-Tasman Resources Limited (PDF, 249KB)
Takatumoana Walden stakeholder engagement (PDF, 748KB)
Location of information (PDF, 102KB)
21 October 2025
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui presentation (PPTX, 3.7MB)
Taranaki Offshore Partnership presentation (PPTX, 1.4MB)
Climate Justice Taranaki presentation (PDF, 1.4MB)
Beach energy letter to the panel (PDF, 166KB)
22 October 2025
Te Kaahui o Rauru Trust presentation (PPTX, 425KB)
South Taranaki Underwater Club presentation (PPTX, 30MB)
South Taranaki Underwater Club reefs video evidence (Vimeo)
Greenpeace Aotearoa and Kiwis Against Seabed Mining presentation (PPTX, 10.7MB)
Wanganui-Manawatu Sea Fishing Club and Patea and Districts Boating Club presentation (PDF, 1.3MB)
23 October 2025
Translation of Karley Hemopo presentation (PDF, 59KB)
Te Korowai o Ngāruahine Trust presentation (PPTX, 12MB)
Ōkahu Inuāwai me ētehi atu hapū presentation (PPTX, 3.6MB)
Hapū climate strategy (PDF, 231KB)
Hapū environment plan (PDF, 384KB)
Ngā Motu Marine Reserve Society presentation (PPTX, 27.9MB)
Expert panel overview conference
On 2 September 2025, the expert panel attended an overview conference where the applicant of the Taranaki VTM project provided a summary of the application. The conference was recorded as audio and transcribed.
Part 1 recording (M4A audio file, 31MB)
Part 2 recording (M4A audio file, 40MB)
Part 3 recording (M4A audio file, 41MB)
Part 4 recording (M4A audio file, 43MB)
The applicant's presentation (PDF, 17MB)
Clarification regarding DOC concerns on TTR presentation (PDF, 190KB)
Panel convener conference
On 7 July 2025, the panel convener held a conference with the participants for the Taranaki VTM project.
A recording of the panel convener conference that was held for the Taranaki VTM Fast-track project.
Invitation to conference
On 26 June 2025, the panel convener issued a Minute inviting participants to provide a written response to the matters raised in the Minute.
Minute regarding the conference (PDF, 218KB)
Responses to invitation
Correction to EPA response
On 31 July 2025, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) provided a letter requesting the memo supplied as their response to the convener's invitation be replaced with a corrected version. The panel convener issued a Minute regarding this request.
Letter from the EPA (PDF, 137KB)
Corrected EPA memorandum (PDF, 136KB)
Minute regarding correction to EPA memo (PDF, 120KB)
Responses
Applicant's response (PDF, 167KB)
Taranaki Regional Council response (PDF, 89KB)
South Taranaki District Council response (PDF, 210KB)
Whanganui District Council response (PDF, 134KB)
Environmental Protection Authority response (PDF, 103KB)
Te Kāhui o Taranaki Trust letter to panel convener (PDF, 312KB)
Te Korowai o Ngāruahine Trust response (PDF, 249KB)
Te Korowai o Ngāruahine Trust response regarding panellists and timing (PDF, 3.2MB)
Te Korowai o Ngāruahine response (PDF, 458KB)
Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Ruanui Trust response (PDF, 228KB)
Te Kaahui o Rauru response (PDF, 206KB)
Ngāruahine hapū response (PDF, 230KB)
Ngāti Hāua hapū response (PDF, 165KB)
Araukuuku hapū, Ngāti tū hapū and Te Patutokotoko response (PDF, 58KB)