Business as usual as region fights back

Now is the time for agencies, local councils, businesses and the community to band together and help get us out of this dark hole.

The oil spill from the sinking Rena container vessel will undoubtedly affect livelihoods, particularly the tourist operators who rely on the water and the cafe owners, accommodation providers and retailers in downtown Mount Maunganui who lick their lips for the summer visitor onslaught.

The experts have already said the clean-up will take weeks, even months, rather than days. The business community and councils must be prepared to support and even help out those affected. So their confidence returns.

Tauranga Chamber of Commerce made its move by offering free training courses on how businesses can manage through and recover from a crisis. Business mentors would also be available to help in specific situations. That's great.

The timing of the awful Rena incident wasn't brill - just as the cruise ships are starting to arrive and the visitor season, predicted to be bigger than ever till the oil arrived, is on its way. Tourism is a major economic driver in the Bay, to the tune of $450 million a year.

People in all parts of the world will certainly know about Tauranga and the Western Bay now, through footage of the spill on their televisions. But, of course, that's not the sort of image we want, or like. Thankfully, efforts are already under way to tell visitors - who are wondering whether they should to still come - that it's "business as usual".

Well almost. Tourism Bay of Plenty is preparing a plan to keep the region on the visitors' map. It has contacted Tourism New Zealand and the Tourism Industry Association, which will spread the message on their websites and releases that the Western Bay still looks forward to welcoming visitors.

The airport is open, the roads aren't blocked and the port is still operating. The only difference is that these visitors may not be able to get out on the water for a while, but there are plenty of attractions onshore to keep them happy. There's blokarting, The Elms, kayaking under the glow worms on Lake McLaren, horse riding, the kiwi birds out the back of Te Puke, and the walks in the Kaimais.

The important thing, in this crisis, is not to seek recriminations but to look ahead and create some positive, real action - with everyone joining in, not just in the clean-up but in driving the region forward.

Whoever you are talking with, on the phone, by email or by Skype, tell them that the Western Bay is still the best place to come to, because we are sorting out this oil spill and life goes on.