Chapman Tripp says the Government is planning to amend marine legislation to allow petroleum exploration without the public having the right to be notified or to have any input.
The law firm says the Exclusive Economic Zone and Continental Shelf (Environmental Effects) Act 2012 will be amended through a Supplementary Order Paper.
But Chapman Tripp partner Catherine Somerville said the industry won't have it all its own way - it had wanted oil exploration to be non-notifiable.