June 28, 2018
Reefed Rena a festering hakihaki
Mōtītī iwi have been told they are out of time for a High Court appeal against an Environment Court decision to allow the wreck of the Rena to stay on Otaitī-Astrolabe Reef.
Ngai Te Hapu spokesperson Buddy Mikaere says they believe there are flaws in the Environment Court decision which should be scrutinised by the higher court.
He says while other groups and Tauranga Moana iwi dropped out with promises of funding from the ship’s owners, the whānau on the island can see their concerns about the wreck confirmed every day.
"We still get wreckage from the reef washing up on the island and when you get a big blow you can get some along the main beach, along Pāpāmoa and Mauao. The aircraft that services the island frequently reports oil slicks coming up from the wreck. It’s still there like a festering hakihaki," Mr Mikaere says.
Ngai Te Hapu still has a fortnight to appeal the decision by Justice Gerard van Bohemen that the appeal be dismissed on technical grounds and because there is no realistic prospect of the it succeeding.
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