Rahui Remains On Wherever Oil Moves

Tauranga Moana Iwi Customary Fisheries Trust chairman Penetaka Dickson says the rāhui placed over areas affected by the oil coming from the stricken ship Rena remains in place.

The rāhui extends from the shoreline between Bowentown through to Maketu out to Tuhua/Mayor Island and Motiti. It now includes Tauranga Harbour as well.

He said the nature of an oil slick is that it moves with the weather and tides on the surface so this rāhui moves correspondingly.

It is important for people to realise that in those areas that have been impacted and cleaned up there remains a strong likelihood that seafood is contaminated.

“We are urging caution until we know more,” he says.

He said the rāhui has been put in place for practical and safety reasons.

“Firstly, to discourage people from taking and eating Kaimoana from affected areas. Secondly, we seek to reduce the risk of people transferring pollutants from one area to another.”

Tauranga Moana Iwi held a Karakia on the beaches of Mount Maunganui at 9am this morning to reinforce the continuation of the rāhui and the Rena recovery effort.