Sunda Energy has taken another step in its New Zealand growth strategy by submitting an application for a 645 km² Petroleum Exploration Permit in the offshore Taranaki Basin. The permit area includes the Awakino gas condensate discovery, originally drilled in 1985, and forms part of the company's broader ambition to build a significant upstream business in the country following its proposed acquisition of Matahio Energy NZ.
If awarded, the work programme will include detailed studies of existing well and field data together with the reprocessing of 450 km² of 3D seismic data over the next three years. The objective is to better define the Awakino field for potential appraisal and development while assessing the wider exploration potential of the surrounding acreage. The application has now entered New Zealand's competitive permit process, during which other parties may also submit bids.
The announcement reflects growing confidence in New Zealand's upstream sector following recent policy changes aimed at strengthening domestic gas supply and energy security. It also highlights the continued importance of high-quality subsurface data, seismic reprocessing and geological interpretation in unlocking mature but under-explored basins.
These themes will be explored in depth at the EAGE Exploration Workshop: Unlocking New Zealand's Upstream Potential, taking place 1–2 September 2026 in Auckland. Bringing together industry, government and academia, the workshop will examine the latest developments in exploration, basin analysis, CCUS and the technologies shaping the future of New Zealand's subsurface sector.
For more details on the workshop in Auckland, speakers and how to register, please visit the event website.
