Two southern cities are battling it out for hosting rights to an oil and gas base, after confirmation oil giant Shell wants to drill a test well in the deep south.

A significant gas find in the Great South Basin would provide the largest economic boom to NZ people would ever remember, an analyst said.

Shell hopes drilling will produce Maui-size gas reserves

A poll reveals a striking generation gap in attitudes to mining.

There is increased opposition to the Govt's plans for oil, gas and mineral exploration in the latest Herald-DigiPoll survey - although nearly 60% of respondents still support it.

Environmental groups say a court ruling confirms the approval system for oil and gas drilling waters is a box-ticking exercise, and draft regulations will further reduce public scrutiny.

Officials in New Zealand's leading oil and gas region are rejecting claims that cows are being allowed to graze on land polluted by waste from mining and fracking operations.

Texan oil giant Anadarko's environmental credentials and the future of its New Zealand offshore exploration programme are being questioned as the company faces a US toxic site cleanup and compensation claim which could reach US$14 billion ($16.9 billion).

Energy Minister Simon Bridges has become the victim of a hoax website hack by Greenpeace activists opposed to oil drilling.

International oil and gas giants who have gained permits to explore NZ's seabed and land say they aren't deterred by the prospect of protest as it is a natural part of the petroleum industry.

Government efforts to entice major global oil and gas producers to New Zealand has borne fruit, with Norway's state-owned Statoil and Australian heavyweight Woodside Petroleum winning exploration licences in the latest permit awards.

A 'funeral procession' for New Zealand's endangered Maui's dolphin species is currently winding though Wellington's inner city streets.

Deep-sea oil drilling interests claim our Government could receive $300m from it. Is our "clean, green reputation" worth trading in for that, Matt McCarten asks.

Shane Jones' comments in support of Anadarko's deep sea oil drilling has left Labour scrambling to reconcile those views with the opposition voiced by other MPs.

Editorial: If Greenpeace is right, and there's an undersea oil well that could spill 40k barrels a day - then finding it would be very good news indeed.

Deep sea exploration oil drilling off the Waikato coast by Texas-based oil company Anadarko began early today.

Deep sea exploration oil drilling off the Waikato coast has been delayed by "technical issues", Texas-based oil company Anadarko says.

It has been announced that Shell will drill for oil and gas in the Great South Basin off the coast of Otago and Southland. Vote now on whether you support deep sea oil drilling in NZ.

The scene is set for a skirmish off the North Island's west coast this morning as protest vessels hold fast to Anadarko oil drilling ship the Noble Bob Douglas.

One of the two New Zealand Greenpeace protesters charged with hooliganism by Russian authorities has walked out of jail on bail today.

Official advice that appeared to show the risk of an oil spill off Kaikoura was far greater than first thought is deeply misleading, Environment Minister Amy Adams says.

Labour claims the Government has kept secret the real risk of a major oil spill at Anadarko's proposed Kaikoura drilling site.

The first of 30 Greenpeace activists arrested by Russia in an Arctic protest two months ago has been freed on bail, in a case that has drawn attention both to Russia's ambitions in the region and its hard line against dissent.

Greenpeace has aid the oil drilling ship Noble Bob Douglas and its support vessel breached maritime protocols.