The Green Party is describing the failed oil-exploration drilling off Taranaki as a "dodged bullet", but says risk remains with drilling plans near Otago.
Anadarko has stopped deep-sea test drilling off Taranaki, saying it did not find enough oil to make a well commercially viable.
The company is now heading to Otago to drill for oil and gas in the Canterbury Basin.
Green Party co-leader Russel Norman says although the test well in Taranaki did not explode, others will always carry that risk, and the result would be huge environmental pollution.
Anadarko says the drilling of a test well off Taranaki to a depth of 4600 metres shows it can operate safely.
