An anti-deep sea drilling activist says while there is no exploration happening in the Reinga Basin, Norwegian petroleum giant Statoil still has its sights on off-shore Northland.
Mike Smith said the lack of activity by any company in New Zealand's potential oil fields - the cessation caused by a slump in international oil prices and a rapidly swelling shift to alternative energy - has only temporarily taken the heat off Northland.
"Unlike a lot of oil companies who are retrenching, Statoil does not seem to be sitting on its hands," Mr Smith said. "Statoil has not packed up and gone home."
The Norwegian government majority owned company, which funds a superannuation scheme among other welfare benefits, has recently hooked up with American company Chevron as a partner in exploration off the East Coast, he said.
Mr Smith, who last year visited Norway to meet the indigenous Sami people and protest at Statoil's annual meeting, said Statoil would be welcome in Northland if it came here wanting to explore renewable technology.