The Green Party is concerned at the news an oil company will drill an exploratory well on Stewart Island.
Greymouth Petroleum has been granted consent by Southland District Council to drill a well on private land on Horseshoe Bay Road to carry out petroleum exploration.
The consent, issued yesterday, is for four months, with drilling to begin next week.
Council senior resource management planner Jennifer Green says the approval is for exploration only and any further testing of the well or further drilling of wells will be subject to another resource consent application.
Green MP Catherine Delahunty says Stewart Island is known for its conservation values and it deserves protection from oil exploration.
"Development of areas known for their natural beauty, such as Rakiura/Stewart Island, is a threat to our economically valuable clean, green image," she said.
Ms Delahunty said it was concerning that the consent was granted without public notification.
"The public has the right to have a say before councils give companies the go ahead for any oil and gas exploration activities."
Greymouth Petroleum holds six exploration permits in the Taranaki Basin and one on the Great South Basin. It has rights to produce gas and oil from eight onshore Taranaki mining permits.
It will be the first time petroleum exploration is carried out on Stewart Island.
Activities at the well include 24-hour drilling operations, temporary buildings and structures, and minor earthworks relating to site construction.
The consent has been granted with 13 conditions, including that the site be restored to its original state and that only essential drilling activities be carried out.
Environment Southland has yet to decide on a recommendation to approve the consent.
NZN