Media Release

15 January 2015

Council Asks Public to Report Tallow in Estuary

People walking around Ahuriri Estuary are asked to look out for and report any remaining globules of tallow following this week’s accidental spill.

People can call HBRC’s 24/7 pollution hotline on 0800 108 838 with location details.

“We cleaned up all that we could see, but over the next few days more tallow may be washed up at high tide marks or in corners of creeks, and we’d appreciate people letting us know so we can clear it away and return Ahuriri to its normal state,” said Mike Alebardi, HBRC Team leader pollution response.

The washed up tallow was unsightly, but HBRC confirmed that the accidental spill had minimal environmental impact and the District Health Board had also confirmed that the heat treated fat posed no health risk.

Teams from HBRC, Napier City Council and HBDHB had worked together to clean up the 13 tonnes of spilt tallow from drains and the high tide mark in the estuary on Monday and Tuesday, after a truck carrying tanker of tallow ruptured a valve.