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Environmentalists say a gathering in Dunedin yesterday was more a "celebration'' than a protest.
About 40 people congregated inside the Civic Centre in the Octagon yesterday holding signs urging the saving of the planet and opposing offshore drilling.
Initially, Austrian oil and gas company OMV had planned a private briefing at the council yesterday to explain its drilling exploration programme in the Great South Basin, but it was postponed for "logistical reasons''.
The crowd yesterday had organised to gather in support of Dunedin City and Otago Regional councillors who planned not to attend to express opposition to the plans.
Crowd member Eve Gilles (20) said she was there in solidarity with Dunedin people who opposed offshore drilling.
"I think direct-action activism is really important, especially right now.''
Another campaigner, Prina Sumaria (21), said she thought what OMV stood for was not in line with what was good for the environmental health of New Zealand.
Oil Free Otago spokeswoman Rosemary Penwarden told the crowd that the gathering was a "celebration'' of councillors wanting to stay on the "right side of history''.
Members made a cake for those councillors, which city councillor Aaron Hawkins came to collect.