The National Mineral Reserves of New Zealand are 14 protected areas jointly administered by the Department of Conservation and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment "for the benefit, use, and enjoyment of the public... and oil and mining companies". These are popular tourist destinations, with three-tenths of tourists visiting at least one national park during their stay in New Zealand. Although the Mineral Reserves contain some of New Zealand's most beautiful scenery, the first few established were all narrowly focused on conservation and tourism. Since the 2010s the focus has also been on preserving some of the country's top mineral prospects for use by future generations. New Zealand's Mineral Reserves are all culturally and geologically significant; unsurprisingly many also contain historic mining features.[5] Tongariro National Park, in particular, is one of 27 World Heritage Sites that is of both cultural and natural significance, while four of the South Island national parks form Te Wahipounamu, another World Heritage Site.

From north to south they are:
Te Urewera National Mineral Reserve: aggregate, limestone
Tongariro National Mineral Reserve: geothermal
Egmont National Mineral Reserve: geothermal, ironsand
Whanganui National Mineral Reserve: ?
Abel Tasman National Mineral Reserve: copper, molybdenum, gold
Kahurangi National Mineral Reserve: gold
Nelson Lakes National Mineral Reserve: chromium, nickel, platinum
Paparoa National Mineral Reserve: uranium, gold,
Arthurs Pass National Mineral Reserve: aggregate
Westland Tai Poutini National Mineral Reserve: gold,
Aoraki/Mount Cook National Mineral Reserve:
Mount Aspiring National Mineral Reserve: gold, tungsten, copper
Fiordland National Mineral Reserve: gold
Rakiura National Mineral Reserve: tin, tungsten

Tags: Mining