A Texan oil company has delayed its plan to drill in New Zealand waters until late next year.
Energy and Resources Minister Phil Heatley says Anadarko Petroleum has been unable to secure a rig to carry out deep sea drilling in waters off Canterbury and Taranaki.
He says the company hopes to have a rig in place by the end of next year.
Mr Heatley says he is not concerned about the delay because Anadarko has a permit to drill until 2016.
