Rena Crisis Could be Far Worse in Future

Tuesday 11 October 2011
Press release: Ngai Te Rangi Fisheries Ltd

As bad as the Rena crisis is we could face something far worse in the foreseeable future if the Port of Tauranga has its way. This is the message from Maru Samuels, Chairman of Ngai Te Rangi Fisheries which looks after Ngai Te Rangi’s $11 million commercial fishing interests in Tauranga.

The Port of Tauranga recently applied for resource consent to dredge the Tauranga harbour so that much larger ships can use the port. The iwi fought this application and the Port all the way to the Environment Court.

“The potential 1,700 tonne oil crisis and poisonous cargo carried by the Rena is bad enough but fast forward a few years and we could be dealing with a crisis involving thousands and thousands of tonnes of oil”, Mr Samuels said.

Maritime New Zealand has primary oversight of the Rena crisis but the connection with the Port of Tauranga is clear.

“If not for the Port of Tauranga, the Rena would not be here and would not be leaking hundreds of tonnes of oil into our moana (sea). There is always this type of risk involved in running a commercial port of this size”.

With the Environment Court’s decision pending, Mr Samuels is hopeful the panel will be mindful of the Rena crisis and future risks when making their decision.

ENDS

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