In New Zealand, a total of 17 licenses were granted: 8 in the East Coast region, 7 in Taranaki, 1 in Northland, and 1 in Murchison. Although 10 licenses were relinquished (8 offshore), a net increase in area under license resulted, particularly onshore. Seismic exploration activity totaled 519 km onshore and 2,403 km offshore. Drilling decreased slightly, with 10 onshore and 6 offshore wells totaling 46,584 m. Much of the drilling involved appraisals of the Kupe South field, Waihapa field, and Kora structure, all in the Taranaki basin. Total petroleum production remained steady at 4,716 million m³ of gas, 1,221 m³ of condensate, and 752 m³ of oil. A decision on whether to construct the Maui B platform awaits the outcome of pending negotiat ons.

Papua New Guinea had increased exploration activity in 1988 resulting in 15 wells drilled or spudded. Of these, 11 were field extensions. Three were suspended as producers, and the remaining 8 were abandoned. Of 4 new-field wildcats drilled, 1 was a gas discovery, the only offshore well and the only one drilled outside the Papuan fold belt. The total depth drilled, 30,000 m, was double 1987's total. Seismic surveys amounted to 1,220 km onshore, a 43% increase, and 1,317 km offshore, a 72% decrease. The Hides gas and condensate field in the Highlands has been scheduled for development and will be the first commercially produced field in Papua New Guinea. A route has been surveyed for the proposed pipeline connecting the Iagifu and Hedinia oil and gas fields with a terminal at the Gulf f Papua.

There was little activity in Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands, although some basic research was published.