Successful mineral exploration would transform Golden Bay's economy and improve knowledge of the region's mineral resources, mining advocates say.
But green opponents said the rush to find fossil fuels risked one of the country's most pristine areas and its clean-green marketing image.
They questioned why New Zealand accepted exploration applications for national parks where mining was banned.
Chinese-backed Australian company Greywolf Goldmining has applied for oil exploration permits around the coastlines of Abel Tasman and Kahurangi national parks, the Farewell Spit Nature Reserve, and the Westhaven and Tonga Island marine reserves.
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