Ruth Dyson
Conservation Spokesperson

14 October 2011

Bird life didn’t need to take such a hit

With two of New Zealand’s most endangered species of birds under threat and experts suggesting it could be years before the full impact of the Rena oil spill on wildlife is known, the Prime Minister’s continued refusal to acknowledge the Government could have acted sooner is looking increasingly desperate, Labour’s Conservation spokesperson Ruth Dyson says.

“John Key’s tardiness has had huge social, economic, and environmental consequences.

“Locals were requesting booms be placed in strategic areas the first day that ship hit the reef. They repeated those calls over and over again in those first four, calm days.

“We now have one of the saddest pictures ever unfolding along that coastline. At least 1000 oil-covered birds have died. The World Wildlife Fund and Forest and Bird say that number is likely to be just the tip of the iceberg,” Ruth Dyson said.

“Significantly the area is a breeding ground for two of New Zealand’s most endangered species – the fairy tern and the NZ dotterel. Only 40 pairs of fairy tern are known to remain in NZ and five of them are in the affected zone.

“For John Key to now say he thinks ‘people will understand that these things can happen’ is ridiculous. His particular tragedy didn’t need to happen.

“Cuts to Maritime New Zealand staffing and funding, and the refusal to buy the multipurpose vessel that could have removed the oil from the ship, are all decisions taken with John Key at the helm.

“Given the clock is ticking on the existence of some very special birds any further delays would be inexcusable,” Ruth Dyson said.

ENDS

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