Ruth
DYSON
Conservation Spokesperson

8 October 2011 MEDIA STATEMENT
Weather is not with you Minister

Watching Steven Joyce’s lumbering response to the salvaging of the leaking container ship, Rena, is like watching a slow motion disaster movie unfold, Labour’s Conservation spokesperson Ruth Dyson says.

“The weather is deteriorating. Forecasters are predicting strong on shore winds around the area where the ship is stuck on the reef. The clock is ticking.

“The ship is still fully loaded and full of fuel. There will be incredible stress on her hull and that will get worse. There is a very high risk of a complete break up of the ship, yet Mr Joyce is still talking rather than walking,” Ruth Dyson said.

“He is the Minister responsible for fixing this pending disaster. He says it’s a tough job, and we all know it is.

“But now we have the Prime Minister set to fly in tomorrow. To do what? Smile? Wave? Tell us everything’s a lot better than it really is?

“Kiwis would be horrified if this turns into another campaign sideshow. It is an environmental crisis, and it’s not going to wait to happen. The Minister needs to takes some leadership and make some real decisions.

“How about getting the containers off the ship? Come on Mr Joyce. What people want – and what our precious marine life and environment needs now – is action,” Ruth Dyson said.

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