Greenpeace is heading out to tail a seismic blasting ship off the Wairarapa coast.

The 125 metre Amazon Warrior is searching for oil on behalf of Statoil and Chevron.

Greenpeace says the ship is blasting sound waves into the ocean every eight seconds, 24 hours a day - with sounds comparable to an underwater volcano.

Campaigner Kate Simcock says it'll be distressing whales and dolphins, while it searches for the very oil that climate scientists have warned us not to burn if we want to avoid a climate catastrophe.

She also has a message to deliver to the boat - signed by 60,000 New Zealanders.