Oil reaches shore, days ahead of Govt's estimate

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Mon, 10 Oct 2011 7:00p.m.

At 9am the oil slick was heading for the mainland. Transport minister Steven Joyce believed the slick wouldn't arrive till Wednesday, but our pilot said by lunchtime today it would be at the shoreline.

Around 1700 tonnes of oil are on board. We found slithers of it stretched out between Motiti Island and Tauranga.

By lunchtime on Mt Maunganui beach big blobs of oil could be found. It's gooey and thick, and this is just the beginning

Our pilot was right - oil had reached the beach by midday. So how could officials get it so wrong?

Good question.

Prime Minister John Key said they'd be 500 defence personnel standing by to clean up, but we saw not one.

The globules of oil are drifting ashore suspended in the water by the dispersant Corexit.

It was used in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and after reports of skin irritation and respiratory problems authorities were forced to identify what Corexit is made of.

The answer is a combination of chemicals used in household cleaning products, skincare and air fresheners but the toxicity levels are being seriously debated.

Watch the video for the latest.

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Comments

13 Oct 2011 08:03p.m.

peter wrote:

our response teams were totally inadequate.secondly how qualified are the philipino crew.more and more shipping companies are doing things on the cheap.best suggestion is to have pilots escorting ships out of our ports where ever these reef hazards are prevalent.commonsense far outweighs the dollar.

12 Oct 2011 09:39a.m.

Slick wrote:

It was reported that an initial offer of help to pump oil was declined. The obvious disaster that has now eventuated could have been largely avoided if Maritime NZ actually accepted help or took some immediate action to remove Oil and fuel from the Rena. Much easier to action that than clean up the impending disaster that is now eventuated. Disgraceful.

11 Oct 2011 08:30p.m.

Michael wrote:

Pity they can't pump oil dispersant or that sawdust-type material straight into the hull and render it harmless before it leaves the ship.

11 Oct 2011 07:53p.m.

glenn wrote:

Q: does the fact the oil is coming ashore in pick upable lumps mean the oil dispersant is working? i have never seen oilslicks in popsicle form before! Previous desasters have had the shore line and beaches coverd in unbroken fuel oil and impossible to scoop up clean. Is there more being done than we realise?

11 Oct 2011 07:34p.m.

glenn wrote:

I am not a John Key voter, but the oil spill and response is not his fault.He gets his information from the Maratime Authority who are paid to be an Authority on maritime issues.The tradgic event should not be turned into an election issue.It is also worth consideration all movements by sea take 10 times longer than on land, and the delay to respond may mean services halfway there may need to put into port to weather the storm and wait for their oppertunity to help.

11 Oct 2011 07:25p.m.

Mimi wrote:

I agree the government needs to get into gear more quickly with the Rena, but their response to the Chch earthquake was immediate and amazing. Ask any Cantabrian.

11 Oct 2011 07:23p.m.

steve mcgregor wrote:

hi John , they have taken all the crew of the ship whats going happen if it washs of the reef tonight whos going start the motors and steer it ????????????????

11 Oct 2011 07:22p.m.

Mimi wrote:

I agree the government needs to get into gear more quickly with the Rena, but their response to the Chch earthquake was immediate and amazing. Ask any Cantabrian.

11 Oct 2011 07:21p.m.

Peter Corrigan wrote:

John, it's great to see those people cleaning up the oil on the beaches but could you please find out exactly what they are doing with once it's been collected.

Many thanks.
Peter

11 Oct 2011 07:14p.m.

Brett Gander wrote:

C'mon get the crew from the ship to get out and help with the clean up!!!