Motiti’s quiet disaster

The impact of Rena's oil on Motiti Island is on a different level to that of the mainland.

For the permanent residents, seafood from Motiti's rocky coast is a big part of the household larder, and it's all gone.


Graham Hoete snr. examines oil washing ashore at Motiti Island.

The island is just a few kilometres downwind of the Astrolabe Reef and the wreck, and took the full brunt of the heavy fuel oil.

Everything in the thousands of rock pools is dying. The large fur seal population that islanders shared the coast with is either dead or moved on, no-one knows which.

'Yesterday at the beach one of my uncles was going back down to visit one of his seal friends he has a bit of a relationship with,” says Graham Hoete.

'He would go down there and that seal would always be down there, but it wasn't there anymore.

'Yesterday, when he had last seen it, it was smothered in oil and it was pretty sick.”


Debris washing up on the rocks.

Graham, also known as Mr G, is the son of island kaumatua/elder Graham Hoete and has returned to the island to help out with the influx of visitors.

'I think that's why I stuck my hand up too, I don't want people forgetting about the island, it's right next to the blimmin thing,” says Graham.

'There's only a small community of people here and it's a big problem.

'I know the nation's aware of it, but if I can raise a bit more awareness in specific areas where the mainland can help, then that's a good thing.”

Maori Party co-leader Pita Sharples is visiting Motiti today and received the traditional welcome on the island marae.

'I'm trying to find out some of the main issues over here,” says Graham.

'Like planning the clean up is a biggie. It's different to the sand, it's a rocky island over here – whether we all head down to the beach to try and scrub it - or leave it to the army. We've got a few issues over here.

'The oil was just all over the coastline yesterday. I went in there and took photos up and close, and its just tragic man, it's pretty heart breaking over here.

'Some parts have got the full brunt, the oil and the chemical and all that sort of stuff.”

In addition to the oil there is a truckload of rubbish scattered all over the coastline, plastic bottles, timber, containers, metal chemicals that will take a lot more than the weather to clean up, says Graham.


Flotsam on the rocks at Motiti Island.

When asked earlier this week about removing oil from rocks the MNZ spokesman Leigh Stevens says the best agent for cleaning oil from rocks is the weather.

"The Motiti people are strong and coping well and have now got systems in place to train and educate the locals on how to clean the rocky shoreline," says Graham.
"We also have a volunteers register and they will be flying over starting from tomorrow. We also have about 100 army personell coming to help and train too."

A Department of Conservation spokesperson yesterday promised food will be provided free for the 70-100 humans resident on the island.


The oil slick emanating from Rena is hitting Motiti Island hard. The Astrolabe Reef is just 7km away from the island.

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4 comments

Im not sure...

Posted on 14-10-2011 17:01 | By Tony

If there is a lot of work on this Island , Im Thinking not Why cant we put theses poor bugas on a 20 k eack retainer to clean up the Island over the next 12 months and That would help and Id be happy for my Iwi to contribute


I want to help....

Posted on 14-10-2011 21:54 | By noni007

Thinking of the poor folk on Motiti Island. I would love to round up a few friends and come over to help but is there anywhere to stay for a couple of nights? And who would volunteer their plane to get us there?


How To Help Motiti

Posted on 15-10-2011 13:33 | By shazmcleod@gmail.com

If you would like to help in the clean up of Motiti Island, then your first port of call should be The Tauranga Moana Iwi Response Unit where you will be provided with training specific to the clean up on Motiti Island. You can contact either Ngawiki Dickson (027)4195438 or Sharon McLeod (021)857295


Will i be told to leave

Posted on 15-10-2011 14:39 | By gforce

Am i going to be asked to leave the island or told to stay at the high tide mark, as my wife was when i got her off the boat due to cronick sea sickness. We where told by a local that this was private property and was not made to feel welcome at all. Interesting now you need our help!!!!! As the saying goes ...never bite the hand that may one day feed you. In saying this i have fished around Motiti for years and its a crying shame whats happened


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