New Zealand has joined 32 countries at the 2026 Ministerial Meeting of the International Energy Agency (IEA) in Paris, endorsing a Declaration to strengthen global co-operation on critical minerals and long-term energy security.
Energy Minister Simon Watts said the agreement recognises the growing strategic importance of minerals essential to the clean energy transition and global supply chains. New Zealand already participates in the IEA’s Critical Minerals Security Programme, which promotes supply security, market transparency, sustainable sourcing and innovation.
The Declaration calls for improved market monitoring, better data collection, coordinated responses to supply disruptions, support for stockpiling, emergency preparedness exercises, and greater investment in recycling and recovery technologies.
Resources Minister Shane Jones said New Zealand is well placed to contribute to secure global supply chains, citing domestic occurrences of antimony, lithium, rare earth elements and vanadium, alongside strong environmental and governance standards.
The move positions New Zealand as a potential reliable supplier of critical minerals while supporting economic resilience, high-skilled jobs and responsible resource development.
