Mr. Malcolm Bell reports

NOVA PACIFIC METALS EXPANDS THE LARA PROJECT WESTWARD

Nova Pacific Metals Corp. has strategically expanded the company's flagship Lara project on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The new acquisition comprises three contiguous mineral claims with a combined area of approximately 976 hectares.

Nova Pacific's chief executive officer, J. Malcolm Bell, commented: "The Chipman Creek syncline feature is likely the place to find a large, totally preserved deposit such as the 'HW' orebody at Myra Falls, once the fifth-largest VMS mine in Canada. In 2000, Walker and Peatfield recommended stratigraphic drilling in the Chipman Creek area, but it was never carried out due to market conditions at the time. They stated there is a much greater area of unexplored favourable lithology than was previously interpreted by operators and government geologists of the day. I am confident and encouraged by this consolidation into a larger land package since it presents strong potential for the discovery of another important VMS deposit in western Canada."

Key highlights:

• Established geological setting: The newly acquired claims present a very attractive geological target for a large, massive sulphide deposit of precious metals, zinc and copper in an established VMS (volcanogenic massive sulphide) district. Prior exploration work in the area by Falconbridge, Abermin, Laramide and Minnova provides the structural, stratigraphic and geochemical elements of the target.
• Multiple high-potential targets: Two developed prospects, the Lady A and Lady C, are 900 metres apart and are contained within newly acquired mineral tenure No. 1107889. Both prospects are stratabound exhalative, banded iron deposits, located in cherty sediments of the Sicker Group rocks.
  • In addition, the Chipman Creek syncline target encompasses a very strong alteration trend (sodium depletion) over a 200 m thickness that lies down section from a well-defined exhalative, oxide iron formation lying within the claims. Such exhalative iron formations are antecedent to and stratigraphically above important massive deposits and are the most favourable locations for the occurrence of a large HW type (Myra Falls mine) massive sulphide deposit (Dr. Giles Peatfield, Albert Reeve, 1995. ARIS Property Files 680642, 680537).
  • The Lady A prospect is located in the valley of Chipman Creek, in an area of limited outcrop, and has a strike length of more than 100 m and a maximum width of 20 m. It was reported that 12 diamond drill holes totalling 392 m did not completely delimit the deposit, which was estimated to have an average grade of 25 per cent iron (ARIS assessment report 12525, 1984).
  • The Lady C prospect outcrops at the base of bluffs on the north side of a fan of slide material which fills the bottom of a tributary to Chipman Creek. Like Lady A, the mineralized zone strikes northwest. The banded iron formation unit is exposed for a strike length of 53 m and has an apparent thickness of about 30 m, and was tested by two diamond drill holes. The first was drilled beneath the exposure and the entire 35 m was in iron formation. The second hole was drilled 40 m southeast and was in iron formation for its entire 48 m length. Two additional holes drilled down dip were also in iron formation for their entire length, each being approximately 60 m in length. More drilling was recommended (ARIS assessment report 12525, 1984).

The company acquired ownership of the mineral claims from two directors in consideration for the repayment of their nominal out-of-pocket expenses. The claims were transferred free and clear of any encumbrances (including royalty interests), and the transaction did not involve the issuance of any equity securities.

Since Nova Pacific is a reporting issuer in the province of Ontario, it is subject to the provisions of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 -- Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions. The acquisition of the mineral claims constituted a related party transaction as that term is defined in MI 61-101, and the company is relying on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority approval requirements under MI 61-101, and in particular, sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as the fair market value of the transaction is not more than the 25 per cent of the company's market capitalization

Future work at Lara:

Nova Pacific's newly expanded land position underscores the potential of the Lara project. The company is now preparing to advance its exploration efforts, with plans including:

• 10,000 m targeted drilling program to further delineate the extent of mineralization at Lara;
• Geophysical and geochemical surveys outside the Lara deposit to identify new areas of interest;
• Initial metallurgical studies of the Lara deposit to inform future development plans.

Readers should note that while these results are promising, further work at the Lara project is required to fully understand the extent and economic viability of the known mineralization. References to similarities between the Myra Falls deposits and the Lara project are not necessarily indicative to similar results that may be obtained at the Lara project.

Qualified person

David Nelles, PGeo, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 -- Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and verified the scientific and technical data contained in this news release.

Rights of indigenous communities statement

Nova Pacific operates on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Stz'uminus and Hul'qumi'num Treaty Group, a politically unified group that represents six Hul'qumi'num-speaking first nations: Cowichan, Penelakut, Lyackson, Halalt and Lake Cowichan. The company's entire team is committed to establishing lasting relationships with local communities by fostering inclusion and contributing to a shared prosperity.

About Nova Pacific Metals Corp.

Nova Pacific is a Canadian exploration and development company focused on the Lara volcanogenic massive sulphide project on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. This brownfield, polymetallic development project boasts a significant historic resource rich in critical metals and precious metals situated in a prime location with excellent infrastructure. Nova Pacific's forward-looking strategy includes confirmation and infill drilling this spring, completion of an updated mineral resource estimate (MRE) and preparation of a prefeasibility study in late Q3, if and as required. The company is committed to creating value for its shareholders while maintaining environmental responsibility and strong community relationships.

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