Port of Tauranga chemical smell: Worker taken to hospital

Emergency services have been called to the Port of Tauranga.

A Port of Tauranga worker has been taken to hospital after a strong chemical smell at the wharves this morning.

Emergency services were called to the port around 5.40am after the smell was reported at the southern end of the Mount Maunganui wharves.

Three workers reported feeling sick and nearby work areas were temporarily evacuated, a Port of Tauranga spokeswoman said.

“One person was taken to hospital as a precaution. The smell has now dissipated and operations have returned to normal.

“Bay of Plenty Regional Council officers are investigating. At this stage, there is no obvious port-related source of the smell.”

A Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokesman said three trucks and a hazmat vehicle went to the port, but were unable to find anything and have left the scene in the hands of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council pollution team.

Crews left about 7.10am.

He said Hato Hone St John was also called because “a number of people are feeling sick” due to the smell.

Regional council regulatory compliance manager Stephen Mellor said it was investigating a site in the Mount Maunganui industrial area which was a possible source of the odour.

”At this stage, it appears there may have been a failure on-site which resulted in an odour discharge.”

He said it was looking at any non-compliance with any resource consent or regional rule as part of the investigation.

There are now no regional council staff on-site.