New Zealand leaves the Beyond Oil & Gas Alliance
New Zealand left the Beyond Oil & Gas Alliance on 21 June 2025, following the decision by the Government of New Zealand to repeal the 2018 ban on offshore oil and gas exploration.
Following the election in October 2023, BOGA initiated a dialogue with the incoming Government of New Zealand regarding their pledge to repeal the 2018 ban, which was the basis of their status as Associate Member of the Alliance. The Government of New Zealand was made aware of the implications of repealing the ban, and was informed that when the legislation passed, they would be in breach of their membership commitment and would leave the Alliance.
Considering this, and amid ongoing efforts to pass the legislation and establish an investment fund for domestic gas exploration, the Government of New Zealand has confirmed that it will withdraw from BOGA.
BOGA remains open to dialogue and ready to support the Government of New Zealand in delivering a just transition should it decide to uphold the ban on offshore oil and gas drilling and explore cleaner, cheaper routes to climate and energy security.
New Zealand was a founding member of BOGA and helped to launch the Alliance at COP26 in Glasgow in 2021.
