Rahui placed around oil spill and reef

Tauranga iwi, through the Tauranga Moana Iwi Customary Fisheries Trust, in conjunction with tangata whenua of Motiti Island have placed a rahui or ban around the area surrounding the Astrolabe Reef and the oil slick from the stricken ship Rena. This prohibits the collecting of kaimoana for consumption from the contaminated area.

The rahui will encompass all the area of contamination which will change as the oil spreads.  However, caution is urged throughout Tauranga Moana for the duration of this crisis.

Tauranga Moana Iwi Customary Fisheries Trust Chairman and Ngai Te Rangi Iwi chief executive, Brian Dickson, said the rahui is a practical and cultural response to the growing problem.

Dickson said the rahui is to assist with preventing the oil reaching other parts of the marine and coastal ecosystem by alleviating the need for boats to enter the area of operations around the Rena and the oil slick.  It is also to protect the health and safety of people working in the proximity.

"We understand people may want to see for themselves what is going on but rubbernecking is not helpful at the moment.  Boats will collect oil as they move through the slick and then transfer that oil back to the harbour when they return potentially spreading the problem through secondary contamination.

"Shellfish are particularly sensitive to hydrocarbons and other pollutants so anything that can be done to restrict the movement of oil should be done.  Boats returning to moorings, marinas and ramps are could bring contaminates to shellfish beds in the harbour."

He said the rahui is being put in place to assist with restoration of the mauri of the ocean, which could be seen as the life force of the ocean and the integrity of the marine ecosystem.

"Most importantly we want people's health protected so they aren't eating shellfish or pelagic or demersal fish from around the area until everyone is certain they are safe at which time the rahui will be lifted."

Dickson said a rahui is not enforceable by authorities however in his experience both Maori and non-Maori tend to respect a rahui.