New Zealand

REPORT

Newsletter 3 October 2001

ShelfContinental

1996

NZ ratifies UNConvention onthe Law of theSea (UNCLOS)

1997

Responsibilityfor NZ’s

ContinentalShelf Project

transfers to LINZ

1998

Desktop studycompleted and

reviewed byindependent

experts

1999

Governmentapproves $44

million budgetfor data

collection

1999

LINZ projectteam

established

1999

Tangaroacarries outsuccessful

survey ofColville Ridge

area

2000

L’Atalantecarries outsuccessful

survey ofResolutionRidge area

2000

Tangaroacarries outsuccessful

survey ofSouthern and

Western regions

Deadline Extended01

Charting New Legal Territory02

Final Surveys Planned03

Involved from the Outset04

Deep Seismic Survey Delivers05

Contents

TIM

ELI

NE

Explanation Of Terms

3 Bathymetry: the measurement of the land under the sea, done by measuring from the water surface down to the seabed

3 Multi-beam survey: a survey, which uses sound waves to scan the seabed.3 Deep seismic survey: single beam or multi-beam surveys of the sea floor 3 UNCLOS: United Nations Committee on the Law of the Sea3 CLCS: (UN) Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf3 Article 76: the criteria the United Nations sets for States to define the outer limits of their

continental shelf

2000

Tenderscalled for

deepseismic

survey work

2000

Extra desktopstudy of Ross

Dependency andareas alignedwith Australia

2001

-20

02

2002

2002

2002

Geco Resolutioncarries out

successful deepseismic survey

Processing ofdata, analysis

andinterpretation

Tangaroa to carryout Eastern

region survey inMay 2002

Melville to carryout two multi-beam

surveys: BollonsSeamount and

Wishbone Spur inMarch 2002

2003

Commonboundary

negotiationswith Australia

completed

2004

Australia tosubmit its case

2006

New Zealand tosubmit its case

(MFAT topresent)

IntroductionDeadline Extended

A three-year extension from the United Nations has not slowed work onthe data collection phase of New Zealand’s Continental Shelf Project. TheProject Team is keeping to its original schedule in gathering evidence todefine the outer limits of the country’s continental shelf, although it maydecide to make use of the additional time to prepare its final submission.

New Zealand has sovereign rights over seabed resources within itscontinental shelf but the boundaries of that area are undefined. Theserights are currently contained within the 200 nautical mile exclusiveeconomic zone (EEZ). Following New Zealand’s ratification of the UNConvention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in 1996, we originally had until2006 to lodge our submission. The deadline has been extended to May2009, a move supported by New Zealand as it assists developing nationslike our neighbours in the Pacific to prepare their submissions.

Research voyages like those completed by the deep seismic surveyvessel Geco-Resolution, play a key role in defining the outer limits of New Zealand’s continental shelf. They provide important informationabout such factors as sediment thickness and the shape of the seafloor –two critical factors in determining the precise extent of our continentalshelf boundary.

The $44 million project that began in 1997, depends on the expertise andcooperation of a number of New Zealand Government departments andCrown agencies:3 Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) is the lead agency for the

Project and has responsibility for the survey programme, collection,processing, analysis and interpretation of data

3 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) is the lead agencyfor all international boundary negotiations and for the presentationof New Zealand’s submission to the UN

3 The Ministry of Economic Development’s Crown Minerals division iscontracted for the long-term management and storage of the NewZealand Continental Shelf Project related data

3 The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA)supplies scientific expertise

3 The Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS) alsosupplies scientific expertise.

The project is already bringing benefits to the country’s economy as a lotof the work is being undertaken by New Zealand organisations. The longterm benefits will be significant. The Crown currently receives over $100

ExclusiveEconomicZone

This line isindicative only

Possible extensionzone based on marinesurvey and scientificstudies

Area covered inrecent seismic survey

New Zealand’s EEZ and Outer Continental Shelf

01

million per annum from royalties and energy levies relating to the seabedresources within the EEZ. The project will enable greater control ofexploration and extraction activities on the seabed to ensureenvironmental management and sustainability, along with significantscientific benefits such as a greater understanding of climate changeissues.

Management ApproachCharting New Legal Territory

While the scientists chart new territory for New Zealand’s ContinentalShelf submission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) willalso chart new territory on a legal front.

Tim Caughley, Director of MFAT’s Legal Division, says there is nointernational precedent for the continental shelf submissions thatcountries will make to the Commission on the Limits of the ContinentalShelf (CLCS).

“It engages that interesting crossover between law and science – thelegal and scientific interpretations of Article 76, the criteria the UnitedNations sets for states to define the outer limits of their continental shelf.It’s very complex, both in a legal and scientific way,” says Tim.

MFAT’s key role in the Continental Shelf Project will begin once all thescientific evidence has been assembled.

“Once the final data has been pulled together we’ll pore over it with thescientists and apply the definitions of Article 76 to the data. There will betwo parts to the exercise. Firstly we’ll be seeking to determine theperimeter of New Zealand’s continental shelf. Secondly we’ll determinethe tactical approach we adopt, what we decide we have the evidence topush for and what we decide to leave.”

Tim says it will be like preparing any legal case.

“We’ll look at the evidence, making our strongest arguments and adviseif we don’t think there’s enough evidence to support

our case. The difference with this case is thatbecause of the depth of the seabed in

question, we won’t be able to quicklycheck any evidence that’s in doubt, or

come up immediately with evidencewe lack.”

MFAT leads the negotiations withAustralia over areas of common

interest.

“We have to decide where we drawthe line between our continental shelf

and theirs, which is an inherently complexundertaking,” says Tim.

Tim has been involved with the Law of the Sea since the negotiationsbegan in 1974. He finds the work interesting both as a lawyer and becauseof its significance for New Zealand. He will leave the MFAT Project Teamin November to take up the role of New Zealand’s Ambassador in Geneva.

Nigel Fyfe, who has a background in Law of theSea, will replace him as Director of MFAT’sLegal Division and on the Project’s AdvisoryGroup. The other key member of the MFAT teamis Anna Broadhurst, who sits on the technicalcommittee.

New Zealand has until 2009 to prepare itssubmission, although it may do so sooner.Australia is one of the first countries scheduledto present, and the approach they take will beof great interest to us.

“We’ll really pore over the Commission’s appr-oach to the submission of Australia,” says Tim.

“We’ll try to draw what lessons we can fromtheir approach.”

Australia supports New Zealand’s approach tomake a geophysical as well as hydrologicalcase. The Commission has already stated that itwill use bathymetry data as the primary tool fordetermining continental shelf boundaries, but inArticle 76 there is scope to use other data.

New Zealand will get useful feedback for itsapproach at a meeting of the Advisory Board ofthe Law of the Sea in Monaco in October. DrRay Wood from the Institute of Geological andNuclear Sciences (GNS) will present a paperthat outlines New Zealand’s approach and theresponse from the Commissioners present willbe valuable in determining the merits of ourapproach.

Tim Caughley and Anna Broadhurst from MFAT legal.

02

1996

NZ ratifies UNConvention onthe Law of theSea (UNCLOS)

1997

Responsibilityfor NZ’s

ContinentalShelf Project

transfers to LINZ

1998

Desktop studycompleted and

reviewed byindependent

experts

1999

Governmentapproves $44

million budgetfor data

collection

1999

LINZ projectteam

established

1999

Tangaroacarries outsuccessful

survey ofColville Ridge

area

2000

L’Atalantecarries outsuccessful

survey ofResolutionRidge area

2000

Tangaroacarries outsuccessful

survey ofSouthern and

Western regions

TIM

ELI

NE

Use of ResourcesFinal Surveys Planned

The final surveys needed to support New Zealand’s Continental Shelfsubmission will be undertaken in the New Year. The RV Melville, a researchvessel belonging to the American Scripps Institution of Oceanography, hasbeen secured for the multi-beam survey of the Bollons Seamount, locateddue south of the Chatham Islands. The survey will set out from Lyttleton andtake approximately eight days to complete.

The NIWA research vessel RV Tangaroa has been booked for another 30day low fold seismic and single beam survey in May next year. ContinentalShelf Project Leader Jerome Sheppard said some extra rock dredging isexpected after that, but it would only involve a few days of ship time. Thisis likely to be picked up by vessels of opportunity over the next few years.

The collection phase of the deep seismic survey work was completed onthe four legs of the Geco-Resolution’s voyage from November 2000through to May this year.

“This was the single most significant risk for the Project in terms offinance and timeliness,” says Jerome.

“The work was completed on time and under budget and produced highquality data – we couldn’t have asked for more than that.”

Tenders have now closed for the deep seismic processing and sixapplications received are being evaluated. Applications came from as farafield as Singapore and the United Kingdom. The work cannot be done in

New Zealand as there are no facilities here.

“We were impressed with the quality of all sixtenders and we’re confident that the work willbe done to a very high standard. Our people will be working with the successful teamthroughout the process,” says Jerome.

He expects to have a contract signed by theend of October, with the work completedaround April next year.

In preparation for the presentation of New Zealand’s submission, theProject Team is already working on a regional template for the final report.

“We’ll be preparing reports for each of probably six regions to make iteasier for the Commissioners to read and interpret,” says Jerome.

The six regions are Lord Howe Rise, Three Kings/Colville Ridge, ResolutionRidge/Macquarie Ridge, Louisville SeamountChain and Kermadec Ridge, Hikurangi Plateauand finally Campbell Plateau and Chatham Rise.

“It’s a huge job getting the first one preparedand we’re not expecting it to be completed untilmid-2002. After the first one has been done,we’ll be able to produce the others in less time.

It’s important that we get this right.”

Scripps Institution research vessel, RV Melville.

0320

00

Tenderscalled for

deepseismic

survey work

2000

Extra desktopstudy of Ross

Dependency andareas alignedwith Australia

2001

-20

02

2002

2002

2002

Geco Resolutioncarries out

successful deepseismic survey

Processing ofdata, analysis

andinterpretation

Tangaroa to carryout Eastern

region survey inMay 2002

Melville to carryout two multi-beam

surveys: BollonsSeamount and

Wishbone Spur inMarch 2002

2003

Commonboundary

negotiationswith Australia

completed

2004

Australia tosubmit its case

2006

New Zealand tosubmit its case

(MFAT topresent)

Involved from the Outset

The complexity of New Zealand’ssubmarine geology makes working onthe Continental Shelf Project a realchallenge for National Institute ofWater and Atmospheric Research(NIWA) marine geologist Dr PhilipBarnes.

“Some areas in the world are verystraight forward and will be non-controversial,” says Philip.

“New Zealand has every possible complexity in terms of interpretation ofArticle 76 – it’s very difficult, but that’s what makes it interesting.”

Article 76 is the criteria the United Nations sets for states to define theouter limits of their continental shelf. Philip attended a recent meeting inSouthampton with Jerome Sheppard that focussed on the Article’sinterpretation.

“There are many ambiguities on important interpretative aspects ofArticle 76, so meetings like Southampton are important to gain anunderstanding of how other coastal states and the Commissioners mightinterpret it,” says Philip.

He has been involved with the Continental Shelf Project since it started in1996, taking part in the early joint studies with Australia that kicked off theprocess.

Late last year Philip was one of the client representatives on the first legof the Geco-Resolution’s deep seismic survey – a four week voyagecovering the Tasman Sea to Resolution Ridge and the southern end of theCampbell Plateau.

“It’s an interesting project to be involved in. We started out with just a fewscientists involved but other people have been brought in and that hasbroadened and strengthened the programme.”

“This project is different from the work I normally do, which tends to begovernment-sponsored research work where I’m interacting mainly withscientists on a day to day basis. With the Continental Shelf Project I’mworking with MFAT, LINZ and other groups that I’m not normally involvedwith. It adds to the interest of the project.”

Philip has been with NIWA since it was part of the DSIR in 1987. He has aMasters (Hons) degree in geology and a PhD in marine geology fromCanterbury University. When he’s not working on the Continental Shelfproject, he is studying the geological processes going on around NewZealand’s coast. Attending the Southampton conference meant he couldalso make progress on another current project – working with aSouthampton-based group studying the type of rift systems that occur onsome continental shelf margins.

“There are only two or three places in the world that offer the sameopportunities to study actively forming continental rift faults onconvergent tectonic plate boundaries, and the Bay of Plenty is one ofthem. We’re working together on the project and forming a reallymagnificent data set.”

The Continental Shelf Project is also adding significantly to NewZealand’s scientific knowledge.

“It adds hugely to our overall database,” says Philip. “We’re gettinginformation we wouldn’t otherwise obtain and it’s supporting other marineprogrammes. Some very exciting science will come out of all this.”

Profile : Dr Philip Barnes

04

Western Geco’s Geco-Resolution.

1996

NZ ratifies UNConvention onthe Law of theSea (UNCLOS)

1997

Responsibilityfor NZ’s

ContinentalShelf Project

transfers to LINZ

1998

Desktop studycompleted and

reviewed byindependent

experts

1999

Governmentapproves $44

million budgetfor data

collection

1999

LINZ projectteam

established

1999

Tangaroacarries outsuccessful

survey ofColville Ridge

area

2000

L’Atalantecarries outsuccessful

survey ofResolutionRidge area

2000

Tangaroacarries outsuccessful

survey ofSouthern and

Western regions

TIM

ELI

NE

05

Bryan says the principal surveying tool, the deep seismic reflectionprofiling equipment, produced excellent quality results along all the linessurveyed by the Geco-Resolution.

“The high quality data was achieved despite much rougher seaconditions than expected. It’s largely the result of the high number of recordings – 480channels in the sixkilometre streamereach recorded 8,000measurements everytime the large airgunarray fired,” says Bryan.

The 11,000,000 meas-urements made everyminute for four monthsnot only provide a lot ofstructural information,but they mean that a lotof noisy sea motion data can be discardedwithout seriouslyaffecting the recordquality.”

Bryan says that a fairly even balance offavourable and unfavourable results were found from the lines that couldbe interpreted with confidence on board.

“Some ridges don’t yet provide hoped for evidence of continuouscontinental prolongation, although many do.”

Surveying for sedimentary basin thicknesses sufficient to establish a NewZealand continental shelf boundary point has been more successful thaninitially anticipated.

“The anticipated boundary has now advanced significantly in the regionnorth of the Chatham Rise,” says Bryan.

Using such a large seismic system in an environment where it would notnormally operate presented some real challenges to the Geco-Resolutionsurvey teams. There were problems with sonobuoys and a towedmagnetometer that became tangled with towed seismic reflectionequipment. Then there were regular shark attacks.

“Shark attacks on the streamer were fairly frequent and quite violent,”says Bryan .

“The streamer was bitten in two on one occasion and came very close toparting on two other occasions. When retrieving the streamer on boardnear Bollons Seamount, a group of hungry streamer-eating seals provideda rather unusual surveying problem!”Deep Seismic Profile showing multiple reflectors.

2000

Tenderscalled for

deepseismic

survey work

2000

Extra desktopstudy of Ross

Dependency andareas alignedwith Australia

2001

-20

02

2002

2002

2002

Geco Resolutioncarries out

successful deepseismic survey

Processing ofdata, analysis

andinterpretation

Tangaroa to carryout Eastern

region survey inMay 2002

Melville to carryout two multi-beam

surveys: BollonsSeamount and

Wishbone Spur inMarch 2002

2003

Commonboundary

negotiationswith Australia

completed

2004

Australia tosubmit its case

2006

New Zealand tosubmit its case

(MFAT topresent)

Deep Seismic Survey Delivers

Deep crustal seismic data from the Geco-Resolution surveys has alreadyrevealed exciting structural information about the far offshore edges ofNew Zealand’s continental block.

Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS) marine geophysicistDr Bryan Davy says the findings have proven significant, even though thedata has not yet been processed to reveal all the structural information.

“Understanding the tectonic history of these areas will enable NewZealand to place a confident, substantive submission to the UnitedNations on our continental shelf limits.”

The Geco-Resolution, a 75 metre vessel packed with specialistequipment, began the first leg of its survey in November last year. The fourweek voyage covered the Tasman Sea to Resolution Ridge and thesouthern end of the Campbell Plateau.

The six-week second leg began in late January and covered the ChathamRise and Hikurangi Plateau areas to the east of New Zealand.

The third leg began in March, finished off the Hikurangi Plateau surveysbefore carrying on up to the Louisville Seamount chain and the ColvilleRidge. The final leg finished off the Colville Ridge survey lines anddropped off client representatives in New Caledonia in early May.

The Geco-Resolution collected data through receivers on a six kilometrelong streamer towed behind the vessel that picked up soundwavesbounced up from the underlying crust. The signals were generated by alarge airgun array at the rear of the vessel. Data on the earths’ gravity andmagnetic fields provided additional information about the geologicalstructures beneath the sea floor.

Gathering the Evidence

Satellite gravity map showing the major regions surveyed.

Louisville Seamount Chain

Hikurangi Plateau

Colville Ridge

Campbell Plateau

Resolution Ridge

Chatham Rise

The New Zealand Continental Shelf Project Report is published twice a year. Its purpose is to update key Government

agencies on the progress of New Zealand’s Continental Shelf submission to the United Nations. Land Information

New Zealand (LINZ) is the lead agency in the submission. For more information, contact Continental Shelf Project Leader

Jerome Sheppard at LINZ on (04) 498 9697, email jsheppard@linz.govt.nz