Protesters stay away from Canty

The seismic survey vessel Orient Explorer bears down on Greenpeace protester Kylee Mathews, who forced the ship off course during a protest off the East Cape. Photo / Greenpeace

Environmentalists say they didn't protest exploration off the South Island similar to that attracting action further north because they weren't asked.

While protests have disrupted a survey off East Cape by Brazilian firm Petrobras, a similar study in the Canterbury Basin - which could lead to deep water drilling - has not met any Greenpeace action.

One company involved in the Canterbury survey, Anadarko, had a stake in the Deepwater Horizon well which exploded, killing 11 workers and spilling oil in the Gulf of Mexico a year ago.

Greenpeace climate campaigner Nathan Argent said the group was not ignoring the South Island work and was concerned about any exploration that could lead to deep water drilling.

"We would be opposed to that, the reason that Greenpeace is involved off the East Cape is that we were responding to a call from Te Whanau a Apanui," he said.

South Island's Ngai Tahu said last year they hoped the Government would ensure proper procedures were followed and "utmost care" taken to protect the environment when it came to oil exploration and drilling.

Police said they were monitoring East Cape protests and the Government has not ruled out sending a navy vessel to the area where protesters stopped seismic work.

The Petroleum Exploration and Production Association executive officer John Pfahlert said protesting against Petrobras appeared to be more of a "cause celebre" with opposition to exploration from some iwi members.

"They want to see Petrobras off and unless these protests can be stopped there's a very good chance they'll make it happen," Pfahlert said.

"It's the responsibility of the Government to get the authorities involved and make sure having given them the exploration permit that they are now able to exercise it," he said.

"In our view there's quite a lot of sovereign risk involved for the government. It will just be someone else's turn next and getting investment into New Zealand's oil industry will be more difficult in the future."

He accused Greenpeace of economic sabotage.

Argent said protesters were trying to protect New Zealand's economy. Tax breaks for firms looking for oil should be spent on green energy development.