26 February 2016

Substantial report on MV Rena due today

A decision is due today on the application to leave the remnants of the MV Rena cargo ship on Otaiti Astrolable Reef off the coast near Maketu.

“We’re expecting the decision to be a substantial one and very comprehensive. The content is likely to be extremely technical and scientific, so we’ll be spending the next two weeks absorbing it, considering it, seeking advice and consulting our stakeholders before we respond,” said Pia Bennett, a spokesperson for Te Arawa ki Tai and Ngāti Makino Heritage Trust which supported the application to leave the remains of the wreck on the reef.

“We supported the application because we don’t want Otaiti to be damaged any further, because we have faith in the power of the Tangaroa to heal himself and because we are confident that the suite of conditions that we put up, which included the ability to monitor the recovery of the mauri of Otaiiti and its surrounds, would ensure we have eyes and ears underwater and the ability to hold the owner of the Rena to account if the monitoring showed there were problems.

"We would need to seriously consider our options moving forward if the conditions we sought have been changed or watered down in any way."

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