One of the two New Zealand Greenpeace protesters jailed in Russia on hooliganism charges has been told he will be released on bail.

A small boat is refusing to move from the site where Texan oil giant Anadarko intends to drill off the coast of Raglan, as a large drilling ship bears down upon it.

The Auckland Council has approved oil exploration permits off the city's West Coast in a submission to the Government.

A Greenpeace-commissioned report shows dramatic blow-out effects of a deep-sea oil spill, but the industry says it's "science fiction".

Simon Bridges' "uncontrolled blowout" on TV's 'Campbell Live' while discussing deep sea oil drilling was probably due to personal animosity with the host.

A tweet that appeared to suggest Israel had attacked Syria sent US oil prices soaring - until traders realised the post referred to the 40th anniversary of a war.

The Government has kicked off moves towards oil and gas exploration across huge areas of New Zealand and the surrounding oceans by consulting with iwi and local authorities in affected areas.

A Government report shows oil and gold production has slipped sharply, bucking a decade-old trend in which exports from the petroleum and minerals sector have tripled.

New Zealand Oil & Gas says it should have been developing new oil fields by now as reserves at its producing assets dwindle.

NZ Oil & Gas says it's satisfied it "did the right thing" following the disaster at its subsidiary Pike River Coal, as it posts an after-tax profit of $16.7m.

A petrol company says it should not have to pay clean-up costs for decades of petrochemical pollution on prime waterfront land.

More Auckland drivers are calling for help after unsuccessfully trying to squeeze the last kilometre from an empty fuel tank.

Despite modern vehicles being more fuel efficient, drivers still run out of gas and Aucklanders are the worst offenders, the Automobile Association says.

Oil drilling began yesterday in Balcombe, West Sussex, where anti-fracking campaigners have been protesting for 10 days.

Drivers across Auckland today voiced their contempt for "ridiculous" rising fuel costs.

Hikes in fuel prices have forced the cost of petrol to a record high - with two large chains upping the cost of 91-octane to $2.27 per litre today.

Herein lies the opportunity for NZ, writes Frank Duffield. Its resource base is largely underexplored, and world-scale natural gas discoveries are quite possible.

Petrol prices are equalling a record high at 222.9c a litre for 91-octane at non-discounting service stations, after 'unjustified' price rises by the main oil companies.

Sam Judd presents a scathing case against the "Not In My Back Yard" phenomenon, which causes inequality, exploitation of developing countries and horrific environmental destruction.

Motorists face petrol price rises today, after a 3c-a-litre government excise tax increase.

Motorists will face petrol price rises tomorrow, with a three cents a litre government tax increase, pushing total tax on petrol to about 42.7 per cent of the pump price.

Mobil plans to replace its own staff with up to 70 contract agents in a major shakeup at the country's oldest oil company.

Mining on conservation land, deep-sea oil drilling, subdivisions on unspoilt coastline, cranes in suburbia - they bring protests on the streets and rouse neighbours from their burrows.

Greymouth Petroleum director Jim Sturgess must take primary responsibility for the "destruction of trust" between himself and two other board members at the oil and gas company.