Govt expects answers today on Petrobras problem

The Government expects to know today what legal rights the police have to protect the ship that is searching for oil in the Raukumara Basin off the East Cape.

The Orient Explorer, owned by Brazilian state-owned oil company Petrobras, is operating under a five-year licence granted by the Government to carry out seismic testing.

Over the weekend swimmers from a Greenpeace protest flotilla forced the ship off course by swimming close to it, and no action was taken against them.

Prime Minister John Key said yesterday the Orient Explorer was a foreign-flagged ship in New Zealand's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

"If it was happening on dry land, then the police would be in a position to do something about it," he said.

"The question is whether the police are in a position to do something about it when it is in the EEZ, and Crown Law is clarifying that."

Mr Key said using navy patrols to protect the ship was an option, and Police National Headquarters said it was looking at its legal options on interceding.

The Orient Explorer had just started a 60-day seismic programme, and an Air Force Orion is monitoring the situation.

Mr Key said Petrobras should be allowed to carry out its work.

"No one is arguing that people don't have a right to protest but when it actually stops the company carrying out what it has been legally granted the ability to do, then that concerns me."

Greenpeace climate campaigner Steve Abel said protesters were sending an "emphatic message" to the Government that deep sea oil drilling would not be tolerated in the country's waters.

But the Petroleum Exploration and Production Association said the protest was little more than economic sabotage.

Executive officer John Pfahlert said Petrobras was legitimately exercising its right to explore for oil and gas, a right granted by the New Zealand government.

"If the company is unable to continue its survey because of these protest actions, this will send a signal to potential overseas investors that New Zealand is a risky place to do business."

Environment and Conservation Organisations spokeswoman Cath Wallace said the public was not given a chance to comment on the licence, and public protest was the only option available.

The Government was accommodating overseas oil interests while ignoring New Zealanders' views, she said.