The Prime Minister's being accused of being a hypocrite.
The government plans to give out new oil exploration permits just days after the UN climate change summit in Paris.
Greenpeace NZ Executive Director, Russel Norman says the block offer contradicts what's been said at the summit.
"It really is breathtaking hypocrisy really. John Key went to Paris, grandstanded about how he was going to cut greenhouse gas emissions, and then as soon as he gets back he's planning to announce all these oil exploration blocks."
Norman says councils and the public have already said they're against oil exploration in New Zealand waters.
"I think most New Zealanders want to play their part in actually reducing greenhouse gas emissions and avoiding dangerous climate change, and they'd like their government to play a part too instead of being part of the problem."
Russel Norman says if John Key is serious about what he said at the Paris Summit, he'd cancel the block offer.
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