October 04, 2012
Rena response not up to mark
The Green Party is giving the government a fail grade for its response to the Rena disaster.
A year after the cargo ship ran aground on Astrolabe Reef on the approach to Tauranga harbour, Greens co-leader Metiria Turei said National has done nothing to protect New Zealand from ship collisions and oil spills.
She says the most important thing is to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
“We’ve put proposals to Government on how to fix the problem, to make sure we have proper marine safety capacity, to make sure we have mechanisms to deal with another spill, that they have defined shipping lanes so it is clear for ships coming in and out of the port, where they can and can’t go. There are things that can be done. The Government hasn’t been that keen or receptive” she says.
Ms Turei says Maori communities like that on Motiti Island are still suffering and will get nothing from the $27 million compensation package agreed with the owners last week.