Greenpeace activists barricade oil company doors

Greenpeace activists barricade statoils new Wellington office. Photo / Guy Belfield

Activists say they shut the Wellington offices of an oil company this morning to protest deep sea oil exploration.

Greenpeace said its activists briefly closed Norwegian oil company Statoil's Wellington office.

"We're sending the company a clear message that New Zealanders don't want Statoil here drilling for deep sea oil and putting our environment and economy at risk," said Nathan Argent, Greenpeace New Zealand chief policy adviser.

Greenpeace said a report released at global climate talks in Peru shamed New Zealand for having a "poor" record on climate action.

Yesterday, Oil Free Wellington activists locked themselves to a government building to protest against the way oil and gas permits were being distributed.

Oil Free Wellington said three of its supporters locked themselves to the entrance of the NZ Petroleum and Minerals offices, part of the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment.

"We must act urgently to transition away from fossil fuels. We can't sit by while our Government carves up our oceans and land for more fossil fuel exploration," the group said.