By Lindy Laird - Northern AdvocateLobby groups opposed to offshore oil drilling feel they influenced Statoil's decision to pull out of the Reinga Basin - but the Government says it was only about economics. "We now have a much better understanding of the geology of this area thanks to Statoil's investment in data gathering," Mr Adams said. Statoil can also sell the data to other explorers worldwide who may be interested in this area, he said. Northland Greenpeace representative Mike Smith said he believed the company had heard the voice of the people opposing their plans, although that was not why Statoil was quitting the area. Mr Smith said while the pressure was now off the Reinga Basin, other areas, such as off East Cape, were not yet safe from oil companies' interests.

Source: New Zealand Herald October 16, 2016 19:18 UTC