The 750 petajoule Pohokura gas field comes onstream later this year, while the 253PJ Kupe field is not due to be producing until mid-2009. But the two fields do not make up for the decline of the giant Maui field.

“We are running out of gas, in spite of Pohokura and Kupe coming onstream,” Patrick told PetroleumNews.net from Wellington today.

“This issue was first raised 12 years ago at the 1994 Petroleum Conference in Rotorua, where the conference theme was Life after Maui,” he said.

“No one in the government really took much notice of industry warnings then, as the demise of Maui was still a scheduled 15 years away and over their planning horizon. Then the Maui redetermination earlier this decade brought that issue into sharp focus.”

New Zealand’s now rapidly declining levels of energy self sufficiency and escalating crude oil prices, has meant Parliament is finally waking up to energy issues, according to Patrick.

Patrick, who leaves at the end of the month after six-and-a-half years as PEPANZ’s public voice, said he was leaving a more buoyant and varied New Zealand oil and gas industry than the one he found in early 2000.

The industry was no longer dominated by just a few players and the sector was more diverse, experenced and capable than it was last decade.

He hoped PEPANZ and the Government, particularly the Crown Minerals group, would continue working on removing barriers, be they regulatory or fiscal, for players to invest in the New Zealand petroleum sector.

“We have come a long way but we still need more incentives for companies to explore here and to develop their discoveries, particularly the smaller, marginal finds,” Patrick said.

“There still needs to be some changes to the permitting regime, and perhaps royalties.

“Crown Minerals has been doing some excellent things but we need to resolve issues, and be more consistent and transparent.

“Government as a whole are now showing a real willingness to do that. It’s great they are finally waking up to energy issues confronting the country.”