Protestors are claiming victory after oil company Petrobras announced it had left the Raukumara Basin off the East Coast.
Petrobras has been exploring the basin for oil and had finished its seismic surveying of the area on Friday, Radio New Zealand reported.
The data would be analysed, which would take until next May, Petrobras said.
A three-strong flotilla of protest boats -- unaware Petrobras had left -- left for the basin to continue protesting today.
Robert Ruha, of protest group te Whanau a Apanui, later claimed Petrobras' departure showed they had received a "loud, clear message to the oil industry that New Zealanders do not want deep sea oil drilling".
"Petrobras' permit to survey was for 45-60 days -- but only 32 days were used overall, the including days that protests and bad weather prevented surveying during that time," he said.
"An early departure is a good sign regardless of the days used or not used."
