Greenpeace pic from iwi talks, says Statoil

Statoil manager Bryn Klove (left) at the meeting.

An oil company with an exploration licence off Northland has been accused by Greenpeace of trying to secretly get onside with iwi leaders.

The environmental organisation sent a picture to the Herald showing three Statoil executives meeting with someone they described as an iwi leader - pixelating the image of the individual.

The attempt to disguise the person's identity was dismissed by Statoil, which said the picture showed a meeting on Tuesday with Te Aupouri's runanga chairman, Rick Witana, as part of its iwi consultation.

The claim from Greenpeace came ahead of a meeting between Statoil and the Northern Regional Council's Maori advisory committee tomorrow. It reveals the potential issues facing the company in Northland, which has eight iwi and hundreds of hapu.

Greenpeace's Mike Smith said the issue of oil exploration went beyond the environmental threat it posed to the area and included its contribution to fossil fuel use.

NZ Statoil manager Bryn Kove said the company was open in its dealings with iwi.

"We have continuously kept iwi in our area informed through their iwi chairmen. It is important for us to be open."