WELLINGTON, New Zealand, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- New Zealand Energy and Resources Minister Simon Bridges said Wednesday he'd tour Norway, the United States and Canada to discuss possible energy ties.
Discussions would focus on regulatory systems in the petroleum industry and "issues and challenges" in the global energy market, Bridges said.
"This will be a good opportunity to promote New Zealand and show them what we've got to offer," he said.
Bridges said a minerals tender opened in September may give his counterparts further areas to consider for bilateral energy relationships.
The United States and Canada are among the largest energy producers in the Americas and Norway is a European leader in oil and natural gas production.
The New Zealand energy sector is a leading contributor to the national economy.
Oil is New Zealand's fourth largest commodity export, adding more than $2 billion to the country's gross domestic product each year, Bridges said.
