Norwegian protocol around engagement with indigenous peoples is very strict, specifying that consultation must be "through appropriate procedures and through representative institutions," but Statoil representatives, including Ms Felin, were seen at a Wellington caf last week with Te Aupouri Runanga chairman Rick Witana.
"We don't have secret meetings," Mr Klove said on Thursday, adding that the caf where the photo was taken "had to be the most public place in all of Wellington."
Mr Smith also claimed that Statoil had earlier approached another Maori leader with talk of financial support for community projects in the North, including one involving a local school. That Maori leader had since been ordered to "cease and desist" discussions with the company, as he had no mandate.
"Statoil seems to have a cheque-book at the ready, and a willingness to dispense with due process and their own protocols," he added.
"You don't consult with iwi by going and picking off individuals and meeting them on the quiet. Maori expect decision-making in regard to issues as serious as deep water drilling to be conducted in a transparent way that's open to all affected hapu members. Statoil knows this.
"This is also an embarrassment for Norway, which prides itself on certain rules of engagement with indigenous communities."
Ms Felin and Mr Klove told the Northland Age that consultation was fundamental to the way in which Statoil worked.
That approach had been successful in Norway, Africa and Asia, and was being taken in New Zealand. The process included understanding the capacity of a region and determining what the local people wanted.
Consultation was part of Statoil's culture, and Norwegian values sat very comfortably with New Zealand's.
Ms Felin said the company was able and prepared to stop adjust its extraction process, and stop altogether, if problems arose, Mr Klove agreeing that "there may be times when nothing can be done" (because of environmental consideration). They also noted that drilling and fishing, Norway's second-largest industry, co-existed without difficulty.
The company maintained the highest standards of safety and environmental protection, and possessed very advanced equipment for dealing with spills.
"If the equipment needed isn't here, we will bring it, and train people to use it," Mr Klove said.
"We will work with the Environmental Protection Agency, DOC, Maritime New Zealand - it's our reputation that's at stake."
He was aware that not everyone agreed with Statoil's opponents, but it was important that everyone had the chance to express their views. People in Northland were genuinely interested in the process and its potential, for example to make significant use of Kaitaia's airport, thereby benefiting tourism.
"There will always be some extremism - that's a very normal response to a new industry - but we feel very welcome here," Ms Felin said.
"It's important that we listen to everyone, not just the loudest voices and the biggest banners."
"It has to be recognised that the world needs energy," Mr Klove added.
"We will transition to carbon-free, and we want to contribute to that. And the revenue from oil and gas will pay the cost of that transition. Gas, which is much cleaner, will replace coal, and then we must look at renewable sources of energy."
Mr Smith said Statoil was not welcome in New Zealand, however, and deep sea oil drilling was the wrong direction.
"It runs counter to plunging oil prices, counter to a global shift to clean energy, and most importantly, counter to climate science, which tells us that fossil fuels must stay in the ground if we're to avoid global catastrophe," he said.
