Your views: The Rena situation

The Bay of Plenty Times asks people at Mount Maunganui beach and a public meeting at Mount College how they are feeling about the Rena situation.

"It's devastating. Like everyone else I feel helpless."

- MIKE COTTON, 54, Otumoetai

"We are devastated, and would like to know when we can get back into the sea. My boys surf. To look and see all the animals, and birds [is horrible]. I can't take my dog back on the beach until it's safe."

- JANE TYLER, 49, Omanu

"I'm pretty disappointed, not so much in the response because I know how long it takes to organise that stuff, there is a whole lot of red tape. I work for a construction company, and there's plenty of equipment around that could have pumped the oil off the first couple of days, from what I have heard the big call was no."

- NATHAN WINGATE, 26Mount Maunganui

"I'm quite positive about it. My feeling is the oil on the beach will all be cleaned up probably in about a month. The worst is probably around the rocks, it will be there for years. It won't ruin the beaches. Bacteria eats oil."

- GRAEME BEAR, 50sMount Maunganui

"I think everybody has got a bit of anger against the guy who put it on the rocks, he's not the most popular person in Tauranga at the moment. It's annoying it took them four days, all they did was announce they had decided to take the oil out. It might put people off coming here."

- BRANDON HYNE, 50sMount Maunganui

"Obviously I'm pretty upset. Especially because it's nearly summer time. The Mount's such a popular place to be and it's quite sad. We've just got to get in there and clean it up and do the best we can."

- KIMBERLEY HELMS, 19Mount Maunganui

"I think it's a tragedy, I really do. And I think it's going to be terrible for the community. They (Maritime New Zealand) needed to talk to us from the get go (about the oil spill) because that's where the anger comes from."

- DENISE STEWART, 50sMount Maunganui

"I've learnt a lot tonight. I think after having all the facts, particularly the scientific and technical facts, I have a slightly better understanding and I think I'm more willing to be guided by the experts."

- TIMO RANNALI, 60Mount Maunganui

"I'm a surfer so it's affected me in a big way and also I dive and gather seafood. For me it's going to be a long and ongoing effect. I'm still a little bit in shock I guess and coming to terms with the magnitude of the situation."

- DOMINICO ZAPATA, 30Mount Maunganui

"I'm very sad. It's just something we didn't need, but we'll get through it. What worries me is how we get through it, I'm shocked at how rude people can be at some of these meetings. Everyone's working for the best intentions of the community, you can see how hard some of these people are working."

- Cr LARRY BALDOCK, 57Pyes Pa

Add your voice: How are you feeling about the Rena situation? Add your comment below.