An approval for uranium ore to be shipped through the Port of Tauranga is the renewal of an existing permit, says Port of Tauranga chief executive Mark Cairns.
"We've been doing it for a number of years" says Mark.

Port of Tauranga.

"We don't get a lot of shipments. It is something we understand is very low risk."
The application by Energy Resources Australia is to ship container loads of yellowcake from Adelaide through New Zealand ports every two weeks with the USA as the final destination.
"My understanding is the majority of it goes through Auckland and we just get the occasional shipment," says Mark, who is expecting two shipments through Tauranga this year.
The uranium ore concentrate, yellowcake, is exported from a Northern Territory mine owned by Energy Resources Australia to the USA for refining into nuclear power plant fuel.
This year, ships carrying the yellowcake will make port calls in Nelson, Napier and Tauranga. The yellowcake is non fissile. It has low radioactivity, but is toxic, remains on board and is sealed below deck in containers.
The ERMA decision says the yellowcake is shipped from Adelaide in 20ft containers each holding 48 205L drums.
The New Zealand Environmental Risk Management Authority has approved the shipments saying the risks are extremely low.
The approval lasts until 2014.