Bay needs plenty of help to recover

Yoo hoo, Tony! Yoo hoo, Simon! Hi guys it's me - waving, not drowning.

I hope you have a Merry Christmas and that maybe you could do us a bit of a favour. By us I mean the Bay folk who voted you guys back into Parliament with pretty dashed huge majorities.

We understand you both care deeply about the Western Bay and, well, we sort of need a bit of assistance.

As you know the Rena oil spill has set our tourism on a slippery slide downwards and when you add the kiwifruit blight that's zapped us - we are more stuffed than a Christmas turkey.

It is a pretty desperate time, fellas, as summer is upon us and we really need a bumper season to help save the region's economy.

Our ocean-related tourism operators have been hurt by the Rena exclusion zone and container dangers, as well as the oil from the vessel that has hit wildlife. And all are worried the image of the Bay has been damaged by the media publicising oil on the beaches, dead sea creatures and just mentioning the Rena's name in general.

In order to make sure oil-wary tourists come here, Tourism Bay of Plenty has launched a campaign to say we are here and open for business. At the launch of the campaign last week we learned a few things. One was the plenty angle on advertising Bay of Plenty. Such as plenty of golf courses, plenty of hiking, plenty of beaches, plenty of restaurants ... you get the drift.

It's a good line and one that has branding longevity.

As one of the media there, I reckoned there was one question needing to be answered and that was who was going to pay for the campaign.

That was answered by Tourism Bay of Plenty which said they had no dosh.

So, Simon and Tony, before the Government sends another $17 bazillion or so down into earthquake territory I would ask that maybe a million or so is diverted to the Bay of Plenty (of everything except cash and visitors) to help us get back on our feet.

We would show plenty of gratitude.

Gee hasn't the year flown by.

It only seems like yesterday that a nasty little bacteria called Psa was brought into New Zealand and let loose upon an unsuspecting kiwifruit industry.

In the year-and-a-bit since, we've seen the widespread destruction of many kiwifruit operations with businesses and lives ruined. There was a lot of initial finger pointing about how this biological red death arrived in Fortress NZ and some very strong industry rumours about the source. However officials locked down speculation and now they say for the past 13 months they have been closing in on Psa Mary.

You will be pleased to know MAF has narrowed the field and pollen is now being considered as one of three potential sources of the outbreak. Really?

Industry insiders told me that a year ago. Even saying it was Italian and popped in via Chile.

It was common knowledge around the Bay then but, unbelievably, these officials have only now come to that near-conclusion?

But don't worry dear readers, Primary Industries Minister David Carter has moved with glacial pace and has come up with a plan.

And I'll quote him for more effect. He said: "I have asked the Director-General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to commission a review of current pollen importing permits, how they were developed, the decision-making around them and whether any changes are needed in future."

Thank goodness. Nothing like a bit of bold decision-making to set up another gab-fest without actually achieving anything.

Kevin Campbell, Conservative Party MP, you are a disgrace. How dare you say new Green MP Mojo Mathers, who is deaf, shouldn't be in Parliament because she doesn't have all her faculties. She is without hearing, you boofhead, not mentally challenged.

It has been a long year and one filled with highs and lows. I wish all my readers a Merry Christmas and, if you are travelling, take care on those roads. Wear seatbelts, don't speed, don't text and take rests when you need them. Next week I'll be looking back on this year and forward into next. Queue spooky music.

richard@richardmoore.com