New Zealand Oil & Gas (NZOG)

1. Business / Trading Name: New Zealand Oil & Gas Limited (commonly known as NZOG) (rebranded as Echelon Resources Limited from July 2024).

2. Company Number: 37842 (NZ Companies Office registration number).

3. NZBN: 9429040785714 (New Zealand Business Number)

4. Entity Type: NZ Limited Company (limited liability company under the Companies Act 1993).

5. Business Classification: Petroleum exploration and production company (Oil & Gas extraction industry). ANZSIC industry classification falls under mining – oil and gas exploration & production.

6. Industry Category: Energy – Oil & Gas sector (upstream exploration and production).

7. Year Founded: 1981. (Listed on the NZX in 1981 and on ASX in late 1980s).

8. Addresses:

• Registered Office: Level 1, 36 Tennyson Street, Wellington 6011, New Zealand.

• Postal Address: PO Box 10725, Wellington 6143, New Zealand.

(Previous registered address was Level 20, 125 The Terrace, Wellington, prior to relocation).

9. Website URL: www.echelonresources.com

10. LinkedIn URL: linkedin.com/company/echelonresources (Company’s LinkedIn reflects its new name Echelon Resources, formerly NZ Oil & Gas).

11. Company Hub NZ URL: https://www.companyhub.nz/companyDetails.cfm?nzbn=9429040785714

12. NZ Companies Office URL: https://app.companiesoffice.govt.nz/companies/app/ui/pages/companies/37842 (New Zealand Companies Register entry, showing registration details).

13. Social Media URLs: No official active social media profiles under the NZOG name were found (aside from LinkedIn). (The company primarily uses investor communications and does not appear to maintain public Twitter or Facebook accounts; its rebranded entity “Echelon” communicates via LinkedIn). – Data Not Found for other social media.

14. Ultimate Holding Company: O.G. Oil & Gas (Singapore) Pte. Ltd – part of the Ofer Global group – is the majority shareholder (controlling ~70% by 2022). NZOG is effectively a subsidiary of O.G. Oil & Gas, which acquired a controlling stake in 2017–2018.

15. Key Shareholders:

• O.G. Oil & Gas (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.: ~70% ownership (Idan Ofer’s O.G. Energy group).

(As of May 2024, NZOG was delisted from NZX, consolidating ownership under O.G. Oil & Gas and remaining minority holders on ASX).

16. Leadership: (As of 2023)

• Samuel (Shmuel) Kellner – Chairman (OG Oil & Gas representative).

• Andrew Jefferies – Chief Executive Officer (Managing Director).

• Dr. Rosalind Archer – Independent Director.

• Marco Argentieri – Director (OG Oil & Gas representative).

• Alastair McGregor – Director (OG Oil & Gas/Ofer family representative).

• Rod Ritchie – Independent Director (veteran petroleum engineer).

• Catherine McKelvey – Chief Financial Officer.

• Daniel Leeman – General Manager (Assets & Engineering).

(Board and executives have shifted with ownership changes; Kellner (New York-based) and Argentieri represent the ultimate owner, while Archer and Ritchie provide industry expertise).

17. Staff: Approximately 11–50 employees in recent years. NZOG is a relatively small firm by staff size, reflecting its focus on investing in joint ventures rather than large in-house operations. Key staff include geologists, engineers, and finance personnel in Wellington. (Examples: General Manager Assets (Daniel Leeman), Office Manager (Kaye Billington), etc., as per LinkedIn).

18. Staff that have held previous government roles:

• John Pagani – External Relations Manager (2012–2019): A former senior political adviser to Labour Party leaders (Phil Goff and Jim Anderton), Pagani moved from Parliament to NZOG in 2012. His hiring was notable as a “Labour insider” joining the oil industry.

(No known former Ministers or MPs on staff. However, ex-CEO Andrew Knight later took a regulatory role as Chief Executive of the Gas Industry Company, a government co-regulator.)

19. Past Employees:

• Andrew Knight – Chief Executive 2011–2017: Oversaw NZOG through the Pike River mine aftermath and asset sales; later appointed CEO of the Gas Industry Co (the government’s gas regulator).

• Rodger Finlay – Chairman 2012–2017: Steered the company during major asset divestments; subsequently appointed to boards of NZ government entities (e.g. NZ Post, Public Trust).

• Peter Griffiths – Director 2009–2016: Former Mobil NZ CEO, later chaired NZ’s Z Energy and served on government advisory boards.

• David Salisbury – CEO 2007–2011: Led NZOG during Pike River Coal investment; resigned after the mine disaster in 2010.

(Other notable alumni include Tony Radford (founder and long-time CEO/Chair in earlier decades) and Chris Roberts (External Relations, left to become CEO of Tourism NZ, a Crown Entity).)

20. Clients: Not applicable. NZ Oil & Gas is not a consulting or lobbying firm with external clients; it is an oil & gas exploration company representing its own interests and shareholders. Its “clients” are essentially the markets and partners it sells production to (e.g. gas sales to Genesis Energy, LPG to Vector from the Kupe field), rather than lobbying clients. – N/A

21. Industries/Sectors Represented: The upstream oil and gas industry – specifically petroleum exploration, extraction, and production. NZOG has represented the fossil fuel sector’s interests in New Zealand, and by extension the energy industry (including natural gas for domestic energy supply, and oil production).

22. Publicly Disclosed Engagements:

• Parliamentary Submissions: NZOG (often via industry bodies) has engaged in policy consultations. For example, through the Petroleum Exploration & Production Association of NZ (PEPANZ), it advocated on the Crown Minerals Act and climate policies. (Andrew Jefferies, NZOG’s CEO, served as a Director of PEPANZ, indicating involvement in industry submissions to government).

• Ministerial Meetings: The company’s executives met with Ministers during industry events and consultations (e.g. attending the 2018 Petroleum Conference where Minister Megan Woods was present). Any specific lobbying meetings are not formally disclosed due to NZ’s lack of a lobbying register (no published records found).

• Select Committee Appearances: No direct evidence of NZOG appearing individually; industry submissions were typically made by PEPANZ on behalf of member companies (NZOG included) on matters like the 2018 offshore exploration ban and 2021 decommissioning law. (No standalone NZOG submissions were found in public records – lobbying activity was largely behind closed doors or via joint industry efforts.) – (Limited public disclosure.)

23. Affiliations:

• PEPANZ / Energy Resources Aotearoa: Long-time member of the Petroleum Exploration & Production Association of NZ (the industry lobby group, rebranded as Energy Resources Aotearoa). NZOG’s CEO sat on PEPANZ’s board.

• BusinessNZ and Chambers: Indirectly affiliated via membership in sector groups; NZOG has partnered with the BusinessNZ Energy Council on occasion.

• Industry JVs: Partnered with multinational and local firms (e.g. joint ventures with Beach Energy (Aus) in NZ permits, Genesis Energy in Kupe field, and Cue Energy (Aus) which NZOG part-owns).

• International Affiliates: Parent links to Ofer Global Group (energy investments globally). Also a former affiliate: NZOG had significant shareholding in Pike River Coal Ltd (coal mining). (These affiliations show NZOG’s integration in both industry advocacy networks and corporate group structures.)

24. Sponsorships / Collaborations:

• NZOG was a “Premier Partner” sponsor of the annual NZ Petroleum Conference (a major oil & gas industry conference). In 2018, it was acknowledged alongside Elemental Group for supporting the conference attended by officials and industry.

• Science Education Sponsorship: The company has sponsored awards at the Otago Science & Technology Fair to promote earth-science and energy education for students.

• Community and Iwi Engagement: Collaborated with local communities (e.g. iwi consultations for permits, though specifics are scant publicly).

(No evidence of large charitable foundations; sponsorships appear targeted at industry events and STEM education to bolster the company’s image.)

25. Events (held or organised by this organisation):

• Annual Shareholders’ Meetings: Regular AGMs where company strategy is presented (e.g. December 2023 AGM).

• Investor Briefings & Webinars: For example, a webinar on 31 July 2024 explaining the Echelon rebranding and ESG stance.

• ENEX Conference 2011: NZOG helped launch “ENEX – New Zealand’s Oil & Gas Event” in 2011 in New Plymouth as a combined conference/trade show.

(NZOG itself did not routinely host public events beyond investor and industry meetings; it participated in industry conferences rather than organizing large public events.)

26. Political Donations: None disclosed. There is no record of New Zealand Oil & Gas Ltd making donations to political parties or candidates in NZ. Searches of Electoral Commission records and media revealed no declared contributions by the company. (It appears NZOG has not engaged in direct political financing in the last decade, or any donations were below disclosure thresholds.) – Data Not Found

27. Controversies:

• Pike River Mine Disaster (2010): NZOG owned 29–31% of Pike River Coal Ltd, where an underground explosion killed 29 miners. NZOG had board representation on Pike and was criticized for safety oversights. The Royal Commission found serious regulatory and management failures; families have accused NZOG and others of escaping accountability. NZOG received over NZ$50 million insurance payout after the mine tragedy, drawing public ire for profiting while victims’ families suffered.

• Offshore Drilling Opposition: As a permit holder in deepwater exploration, NZOG faced protests from environmental groups. Greenpeace targeted NZOG (among others) during the “Stop Deep Sea Oil” campaigns, especially around 2014–2018 when NZOG held permits in sensitive offshore basins. The company’s plans in the Great South Basin and Canterbury Basin were met with community and iwi objections until those permits were surrendered in 2020 (an “end of an era” as NZOG exited NZ exploration).

• Political Backlash on Climate Policy: NZOG publicly opposed the Government’s 2018 ban on new offshore exploration. In 2020, CEO Andrew Jefferies criticised a Green MP’s fossil-fuel divestment bill as lacking a “macro view” (arguing it ignored energy market realities). This stance drew criticism from climate advocates who viewed NZOG as impeding climate action.

• COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Use: NZOG claimed government wage subsidies during the 2020 pandemic downturn while later reporting a net profit, raising questions. (Media noted NZOG’s $19.1m profit in 2020 despite subsidy uptake). Although legal, it was seen by some as undermining the scheme’s intent.

• Transparency Concerns: NZOG has been accused of opaque lobbying – for instance, quietly influencing policy through PEPANZ. The lack of a public lobbying register in NZ means such engagements escaped scrutiny, a point raised by transparency advocates.

(Overall, controversies center on NZOG’s involvement in a major industrial disaster, its environmental footprint, and ethical questions about its corporate conduct in social and political realms.)

28. Other Information of Note:

• Delisting from NZX: In May 2024, NZOG announced it would delist from the NZX and retain only its ASX listing. This move, completed in June 2024, reduced public reporting obligations in NZ and was seen as diminishing local transparency. Minority NZ shareholders expressed concern at losing the NZX oversight.

• Rebranding to “Echelon”: In July 2024 the company rebranded as Echelon Resources Limited, emphasizing a “sustainable transition” and “robust ESG standards”. Observers noted this as potential “integrity washing”, given the core business (fossil fuels) remains unchanged aside from a new name aimed at improving public perception.

• International Expansion: Over the last decade NZOG shifted focus overseas – acquiring stakes in Australian onshore gas fields (e.g. Mereenie field in NT) and an Indonesian oil project (Mahato PSC). This diversification was partly driven by NZ’s tightening environmental policies. It means NZOG’s influence in NZ now often comes via international partnerships (with firms like Central Petroleum in Australia or Cue Energy, which NZOG owns ~50% of).

• Historical Diversification: NZOG’s ventures haven’t been limited to oil and gas – it at one time invested in a West Coast coal mine (Pike) and even examined renewable opportunities (though none materialized). This reflects a company that, while rooted in fossil fuels, has periodically explored other resources.

29. Recipient of Wage Subsidy Scheme: Media reports from 2020 listed NZOG among publicly traded companies believed to have received wage subsidies during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, no direct confirmation appears in the MSD Wage Subsidy Register under the name 'New Zealand Oil & Gas', and the company did not publicly comment on repayments.

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Sources

[1] Latest New Zealand Oil & Gas share price and news – BusinessDesk (company profile including address and directors). BusinessDesk (NZX Company Profile). https://businessdesk.co.nz/company/new-zealand-oil-gas

[2] New Zealand Oil & Gas Limited – New Zealand Business Directory (registration details). NZWAO.com Business Directory. https://www.nzwao.com/companies/new-zealand-oil-gas-limited/

[3] NEW ZEALAND OIL & GAS LIMITED – Company Summary (CompaniesNZ). CompaniesNZ.com. https://www.companiesnz.com/company/37842/new-zealand-oil-gas-limited

[4] Annual Report 2003 – New Zealand Oil & Gas Limited (excerpt). NZOG Annual Report 2003. Hosted at AnnualReports.com. https://www.annualreports.com/HostedData/AnnualReportArchive/n/ASX_NZO_2003.pdf

[5] New Zealand Oil & Gas Limited is a subsidiary of O.G. Oil & Gas (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. – Company overview. AnnualReports.com Summary (2019). http://www.annualreports.com

[6] Major Shareholdings in NZOG – O.G. Oil & Gas 69.87%, Zeta Energy 17.45% (as of 2018). BusinessDesk (NZX announcements). https://businessdesk.co.nz/company/new-zealand-oil-gas (Major Holdings section)

[7] NZOG delisting from NZX Main Board – NZX Memo (May 28, 2024). BusinessDesk (NZX Announcements). https://businessdesk.co.nz (Announcements: “New Zealand Oil & Gas Limited (‘NZO’) – Delisting”)

[8] Echelon | LinkedIn – Company Profile (“Formally known as NZ Oil & Gas Limited, listed in 1981…”). LinkedIn Company Page. https://nz.linkedin.com/company/echelonresources

[9] New Zealand Oil & Gas to Be Renamed Echelon (31 July 2024 announcement). Echelon Resources (company website news). https://www.echelonresources.com/news/new-zealand-oil-and-gas-to-be-renamed-echelon

[10] Labour insider John Pagani moves to NZOG (BusinessDesk article). Scoop News – BusinessDesk, 7 Sept 2012. https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU1209/S00249/labour-insider-john-pagani-moves-to-nzog.htm

[11] Gas Industry Co – Leadership Team (Andrew Knight profile). Gas Industry Co (Official website). https://www.gasindustry.co.nz/about/about-us/leadership-team/

[12] Roderick Ritchie – Independent Director background (38 years in oil industry, ex-OMV). MarketIndex (Director profile). https://www.marketindex.com.au/asx/nzo (Director profiles)

[13] Petroleum Resources Limited – Ultimate holding company is NZOG. CompaniesNZ.com. https://www.companiesnz.com/company/37859/petroleum-resources-limited

[14] Greenpeace: Spend Covid overpayments on climate (mentions overpaid wage subsidies, Fletcher, Fulton Hogan). Greenpeace Aotearoa, 7 Jan 2021. https://www.greenpeace.org/aotearoa/story/spend-covid-overpayments-on-climate-greenpeace/

[15] Energy & Environment news: NZOG net profit $19.1m after wage subsidy. EnergyAndEnvironment.net.nz, 2020 (General Politics tag). (login required)

[16] The Guardian: “New Zealand bans all new offshore oil exploration” – policy background. The Guardian, 12 Apr 2018. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/apr/12/new-zealand-bans-all-new-offshore-oil-exploration-as-part-of-carbon-neutral-future

[17] Tandfonline – “What shaped NZ’s climate change policies under the sixth Labour govt” (notes industry lobbying vs 2018 ban). Policy Quarterly Journal, 2024. (doi:10.1080/00323187.2024.2446333)

[18] Megan Woods Petroleum Conference Speech (acknowledges NZOG as Premier Partner sponsor). Beehive.govt.nz (Official Minister release), 27 Mar 2018. https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/megan-woods-petroleum-conference-speech

[19] Offshore Energy – “NZOG to sell Kupe stake, promises $100M to shareholders” (details of 2016 sale to Genesis). Offshore-Energy.biz, 16 Nov 2016. https://www.offshore-energy.biz/nzog-to-sell-kupe-field-stake-promises-100m-to-shareholders/

[20] NZ Herald – “Genesis Energy agrees to buy NZOG’s stake in Kupe for $168m”. NZ Herald, 16 Nov 2016. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/genesis-energy-agrees-to-buy-nzogs-stake-in-kupe-field-for-168m/ (Business News)

[21] Scoop News – “What Is The NZ Government Trying To Bury In Pike River Mine?” (details NZOG’s 31% ownership, insurance payout). Scoop.co.nz, 25 June 2021. https://m.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO2106/S00149/

[22] Royal Commission on Pike River – findings summary (lack of second exit, etc). Royal Commission Report, 2012. (Referenced in Scoop [21]).

[23] O.G. Oil & Gas takeover battle – NZOG Target Company Statement 2017 (mentions shareholders etc). NZ Takeovers Panel, Oct 2017. (Takeovers.govt.nz resource)

[24] Energy Mix – NZ’s Oil & Gas History (mentions PEPANZ, industry context). energymix.co.nz (MBIE educational site). http://www.energymix.co.nz/oil-and-gas/history

[25] PEPANZ Submission on Crown Minerals (Petroleum) Amendment Bill 2018 (industry opposition to ban). Energy Resources Aotearoa (PEPANZ), 2018. https://www.energyresources.org.nz/dmsdocument/47 (submission PDF)

[26] BusinessDesk article – “Green MP’s divestment bill devoid of macro view: NZOG CEO”. National Business Review (NBR), 5 Mar 2020. (Title from NBR politics page).

[27] Spectator (UK) – “Labour should learn from Ardern’s calamitous oil and gas ban” (quotes John Pagani). The Spectator (UK), 2023. https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/labour-should-learn-from-jacinda-arderns-calamitous-oil-and-gas-ban/

[28] NZOG Annual Report 2019 – Corporate Governance Statement (notes Andrew Jefferies on PEPANZ board, etc). NZOG/Echelon Resources Annual Report 2019, p.15-16. https://backend.echelonresources.com/assets/Reports/Annual-Reports/2019-Annual-Report.pdf

[29] ACC Accident Compensation Corp – Shareholding in NZOG (CompanyHub data snippet). CompanyHub.nz, 2020. (ACC listed as shareholder with 3.1m shares).

[30] Marc Daalder on Twitter: “Comments which aged poorly: NZOG in 2005 hyping Tui & Pike…” (historical perspective). Twitter (X), 2023.

https://twitter.com/MarcDaalder/status/1688452332251682816

[31] NZ Parliamentary Debates – MPs referencing NZOG/industry contributions (Hansard 2018-2020). NZ Hansard. (Various references during Crown Minerals Amendment Bill debates).

Spot anything in this entry that is wrong? Please either leave a comment at the end or email, in confidence: bryce@democracyproject.nz