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September 07, 2015
Containers still a threat in Rena consent
Waatea Team
Posted On September 7, 2015
A Matakana Island kaumatua says the Rena will keep causing problems for the people of Taurangamoana until what’s left of the ship is taken from Oatiti-Astrolabe Reef.
An independent panel started sitting today in Tauranga to hear the shipowner’s bid for consent to leave the wreck on the reef.
Hauata Palmer says people on his island have been cleaning up after the wreck now for almost 4 years, and that looks set to continue.
He says while some iwi have accepted the ship might stay, Ngaiterangi people are resolute in their opposition.
"There are still a lot of containers in the half of the ship that has sunk into deeper water. At some stage those containers are going to break open and we are going to have a repeat of the same stuff coming on shore. That is what we are basing our stance on," Mr Palmer says.
The hearings are set down for six weeks.
Copyright © 2015, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
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