Celebration Time – Colin’s Returns Home

Media Release

5 December 2001

Celebration Time – Colin’s Returns Home

Colin’s the cat has come home from Korea and all at Westgate’s tanker terminal at Port Taranaki are preparing to celebrate at a welcome home party this afternoon.

Colin’s journey began just over two weeks ago when she stowed away on the methanol tanker Tomiwaka while it was docked in New Plymouth. Hopes of transferring her to a different ship at sea proved too dangerous and there were fears Colin’s would be quarantined on her arrival in Korea.

Fortunately, WHISKAS came to the rescue and flew Westgate Tanker Terminal Superintendent Gordon MacPherson to the South Korean Port of Yeosu to collect Colin’s and bring her safely home.

Westgate worked closely with MAF to obtain a permit to bring Colin’s home and to meet a number of conditions so that Colin’s would not need to be quarantined.

The collection went as planned and the flying leg of Colin’s incredible journey ran smoothly. Colin’s travelled in a sealed cage under the personal supervision of Mr MacPherson and a staff member from the Yeosu Quarantine Authority.

Mr MacPherson and Colin’s arrived at Auckland Airport today and will now travel to the Westgate Tanker Terminal where WHISKAS is sponsoring a hero’s welcome.

“It all went well although we did have some language difficulties,” Mr MacPherson said. “Colin’s gave me a confused ‘where did you come from?’ look when I first met her, but after some patting and stroking she soon started purring away.”

“The Tomiwaka’s second engineer, who had been looking after Colin’s, came up to me after the other crew had left,” Mr MacPherson said. “‘Mr Gordon, please take care of Colin’s, he asked.’”

“We’re all dead chuffed to see Colin’s coming back from her OE,” said Westgate spokesperson Jon Hacon. “She’s been a bit of a naughty girl but we’re all looking forward to seeing her again. She’s a bit of Port history and a great companion to the staff here at the Port.”

“Getting Colin’s home was a great team effort from all involved and we are very grateful to WHISKAS and Korean Air for their support,” he said.

WHISKAS spokesperson Jeff Herkt said that they had been very happy to help.

“Westgate came to us because we are one of their customers – it was natural for us to get involved,” he said.

“Colin’s is adored by the workers at the Westgate tanker terminal. Research shows that animals have a very positive effect in the workplace and we think Colin’s is a wonderful example of an animal that brings a lot of pleasure to ordinary people. That’s something we want to support.”

Members of the public who want to send a message to Colin’s can email her on colins@westgate.co.nz.

ENDS

For more information:

Jeff Herkt – 64 21 973 829
Catherine Etheredge – 64 9 309 1494, 64 25 276 9712

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