The Government plans to give iwi and communities more of a say about oil and gas drilling and exploration.
The ten-year Energy Strategy released on Tuesday includes new guidelines to make it easier for firms to drill for oil and gas.
Acting Energy Minister Hekia Parata is proposing that the Crown decides which areas will go up for tender - making the process more transparent to the public.
She says in the course of reviewing the Crown Minerals Act, the permitting process will be examined to allow more meaningful and timely engagement with iwi and communities.
According to the Energy Strategy, earnings from royalties from oil and gas could grow to as much as $12 billion.
