Petrocorp Exploration Ltd v Minister of Energy - [1991] 1 NZLR 641

Administrative law — Judicial review — Ministerial decision — Minister of Energy was empowered to regulate prospecting and mining for petroleum, and himself to engage in prospecting and mining alone or jointly with others — Minister was one of a joint venture group which discovered oil outside its licence area — Joint venturers sought extension of licence area but Minister refused application and awarded licence to himself — Whether there was a distinction between Minister's statutory functions and his commercial functions — Whether Minister's obligations to joint venturers overrode his statutory functions — Whether decisions of Minister were reviewable — Appeal from [1991] 1 NZLR 1 - Petroleum Act 1937, s 36.

Statutes — Interpretation — Ministerial powers — Whether Minister's decision to award himself a mining licence for petroleum was reviewable by the Courts — Petroleum Act 1937, s 36.