UPDATED 10.28AM: A New Zealander is among six Greenpeace activists who have scaled an Arctic-bound oil platform near Hawaii.

South Aucklander Johno Smith has scaled the Polar Pioneer platform and will set up camp on the underside of its main deck.

Mr Smith claims the crew didn't try to stop them getting on board.

"They had their cameras out and were just filming us. A couple of guys gave us a wave and we haven't actually had any talk."

The Shell-owned platform is being towed to the Arctic from the Malaysian shipyard where it was built by the 217-metre long vessel Blue Marlin.