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Tauranga Moana iwi say they will fight plans to leave part of the Rena on Astrolabe reef.
Clearing the wreck from the reef, which it rammed in October 2011 on the approach to Tauranga Harbour, has already cost more than $275 million.
The owners and insurers are planning a new round of consultation on the next step in the salvage, including a proposal to seek resource consent to leave some of the hull in the water.
Environment consultant Buddy Mikaere says the iwi position is that the wreck must go whatever the cost.
“You crash your car on the Welcome Bay for example; you’re liable to have that thing taken away. Whatever the cost is, that’s what the cost is. It’s removed and it’s taken away somewhere else. It’s the same analogy applies as far as the Rena is concerned”.
Buddy Mikaere says unlike navy ships that are sunk as recreational dive platforms, there was no opportunity to strip the Rena of marine pant and other toxins that could damage the environment.
Copyright © 2013, Uma Broadcasting Ltd
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