MEDIA STATEMENT
Tauranga Moana and Te Moana A Toi Iwi Forum
13 January 2012

Iwi call for tests over Rena poison claim

Claims from families living on Motiti Island that their food chain could be contaminated, must be taken seriously.

“Some of our whanau from the island have told us they will not touch the food in their gardens or sea because they fear they might get sick,” says Charlie Tawhiao, the spokesperson for the Tauranga Moana and Te Moana A Toi Iwi Forum.

The concerns follow the use of Corexit 9500, a serious toxic chemical, to break down oil from the vessel and several species of fish – including Kokiri, Pufferfish, stingray and shark – subsequently washing up on the island’s shores.

“Today we will be formally asking the powers that be, including Maritime NZ and the public health authorities, to look more seriously into the concerns by getting independent experts to carry out more thorough and comprehensive tests,” said Mr Tawhiao.

“Our people on the island are feeling like guinea pigs and they have every right to because this is the first time in our country’s history that Corexit 9500 has been used to breakdown oil in the water.

“The people of Motiti have been constantly hit hard by this entire crisis since the vessel crashed into Otaiti Reef in October.

“The salvaging efforts are very important but so too is the health of our people.

“We aren’t being negative or saying there is or is not contamination and we aren’t on a witch-hunt but we must help our people get some very serious questions answered.”

A reported 200 litres of Corexit 9500 was used to disburse oil in the early days of the grounding, but its use was scrapped after it was found to be ineffective. Many scientists have been reported as saying that the country is in the dark about the short-term lethal effects versus the long-term effects of the chemical on the food chain and ecology.

The iwi have a rahui in place to stop the gathering of seafood from around the island.

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