New Zealand Energy Corp. Expands Leadership Team

New Zealand Energy Corp. ("NZEC" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:NZ)(OTCQX:NZERF)
is pleased to announce a number of appointments to its leadership team as NZEC
expands its exploration and production activities in New Zealand. 


Highlights



--  Bruce McIntyre - Executive Director 
--  Chris Bush - New Zealand Country Manager 
--  Mike Oakes - General Manager Midstream Operations 
--  Cliff Butchko - General Manager Upstream Operations 



Bruce McIntyre has been appointed to the role of Executive Director. Bruce has
been President of NZEC since January 2011 and has been instrumental in the
exploration success and growth of the Company to date. In his new role as
Executive Director, Bruce will oversee the Company's exploration and development
opportunities and will continue to represent NZEC within the investment
community. 


Chris Bush has been appointed New Zealand Country Manager, commencing in
October. Chris is an experienced oil and gas professional with more than 30
years of experience in both upstream and downstream sectors, including roles in
New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United States. As NZEC's New Zealand
Country Manager, Chris will oversee all aspects of the Company's in-country
activities, including government and community relations, production activities,
acquisition/partnership opportunities, and integration of the Petroleum Licenses
and Waihapa Production Station that NZEC has agreed to acquire from Origin
Energy pursuant to an agreement dated May 2012(1). Chris holds a Bachelor of
Chemical Engineering (Honours) degree from the University of Canterbury in New
Zealand and a Certificate in Finance and Accounting from Rice University in
Houston, USA. Prior to joining NZEC he was employed by Origin Energy as New
Zealand Country Manager/Director, where he was responsible for the establishment
of Origin's oil and gas business in New Zealand including the Kupe, Rimu, Ahuroa
Gas Storage and TAWN assets. Chris is a member of the Institute of Directors
(New Zealand) and is Chairman of the Petroleum Exploration and Producers
Association of New Zealand (PEPANZ). 


Mike Oakes has been appointed General Manager Midstream Operations, commencing
August 6. Mike has worked in the oil and gas industry for 33 years in Canada,
Brunei, Australia and New Zealand, overseeing design, commissioning and start
up, staffing and operation of both onshore and offshore oil and gas fields and
production facilities. Most recently Mike worked for Origin Energy as Operations
Manager, Asset Manager and Operational Excellence Advisor, overseeing the
development and operation of Origin's oil and gas assets and production
facilities in New Zealand. As General Manager Midstream Operations, Mike will be
responsible for all producing wells and operation of the Waihapa Production
Station.


Cliff Butchko has been appointed to the position of General Manager Upstream
Operations. Cliff joined the Company in March 2011 and relocated to New Zealand
at the end of 2011 to oversee the Company's drilling, completions and production
activities. Cliff is a professional engineer with more than 30 years of oil and
gas experience in both technical and business roles. As General Manager Upstream
Operations, Cliff will continue to oversee all site activities including
procurement of well hardware and drill rigs, construction and operation of
pipelines, and drilling, completions and production activities.


"NZEC's ability to attract the industry's top professionals is testament to the
prospectivity of our asset base and the strength of our team," said John Proust,
NZEC's Chief Executive Officer. "Chris Bush's exceptional management skills and
strategic leadership complement the in-country expertise and stakeholder
relationships of Ian Brown, NZEC's Chief Operating Officer. Bruce McIntyre, in
his new role as Executive Director, will focus on leading the Company's
exploration and development opportunities. Cliff Butchko's expertise in drilling
and completion activities will ensure the Company meets its operational
objectives, while Mike Oakes' leadership and organizational experience will be
invaluable as NZEC transitions into operatorship of the Waihapa Production
Station and brings new discoveries onstream.


"With a significant exploration program set to begin in early August, NZEC is
building the foundation to support continued growth in all areas of its
business."


In connection with the appointment of officers, NZEC has granted 240,000 stock
options exercisable at $1.73 and 1,000,000 stock options exercisable at $1.68.
The options are exercisable for a period of five years and vest over a period of
24 months, with one quarter of the options vesting every six months. 


On behalf of the Board of Directors

John Proust, Chief Executive Officer & Director 

About New Zealand Energy Corp.

NZEC is an oil and natural gas company engaged in the production, development
and exploration of petroleum and natural gas assets in New Zealand. NZEC's
property portfolio collectively covers two million acres of conventional and
unconventional prospects in the Taranaki Basin and East Coast Basin of New
Zealand's North Island. The Company's management team has extensive experience
exploring and developing oil and natural gas fields in New Zealand and Canada,
and takes a multi-disciplinary approach to value creation with a track record of
successful discoveries. NZEC plans to add shareholder value by executing a
technically disciplined exploration and development program focused on the
onshore and offshore oil and natural gas resources in the politically and
fiscally stable country of New Zealand. NZEC is listed on the TSX Venture
Exchange under the symbol NZ and on the OTCQX International under the symbol
NZERF. More information is available at www.newzealandenergy.com or by emailing
[e-mail].


Forward-looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking information and
forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities
legislation (collectively "forward-looking statements"). The use of the word
"integration" is intended to identify a forward-looking statement as it relates
to the Origin Acquisition Agreement announced on May 31, 2012, whereby NZEC has
entered into an agreement with Origin Energy Resources NZ (TAWN) Limited to
acquire four Petroleum Mining Licenses, the Waihapa Production Station and
associated gathering and sales infrastructure. Closing of the acquisition is
targeted for October 2012 and is contingent on receiving New Zealand government
approvals, Origin completing the current recommissioning of the TAWN LPG
extraction facility, Origin and/or NZEC entering into an agreement with Contact
Energy regarding the use and development of Origin's Ahuroa gas storage
facility, and standard TSX Venture Exchange approvals. Closing of the
acquisition involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those
anticipated in such forward-looking statements, including without limitation,
NZEC's ability to close the Origin Acquisition Agreement on time or at all; the
need to obtain New Zealand government and TSX-V approval before closing the
Acquisition; changes in exchange rates, laws of New Zealand or laws of Canada
affecting foreign trade, taxation and investment; failure to realize the
anticipated benefits of acquisitions; and other factors as disclosed in
documents released by NZEC as part of its continuous disclosure obligations.
NZEC believes the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are
reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to
be correct. Such forward-looking statements included in this news release should
not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this
news release and NZEC does not undertake to update any forward-looking
statements that are contained in this news release, except in accordance with
applicable securities laws. 


(1) Closing of the acquisition is targeted for October 2012 and contingent on
receiving government approvals, Origin completing the current recommissioning of
the TAWN LPG extraction facility, Origin and/or NZEC entering into an agreement
with Contact Energy regarding ongoing operation of Contact's Ahuroa gas storage
facility, and standard TSX Venture Exchange approvals.