The Greens are using oil damage to the Western Bay of Plenty coastline caused by Rena, the container ship grounded on the Astrolabe Reef, to launch a new campaign.
Green list candidate Gareth Hughes dove into the sea at the base of Leisure Island this morning, where he unfurled a banner reading ‘Love it, Protect it'.
Green MP Gareth Hughes takes the plunge for the campaign launch. Photo: Cody Stevens.
This is the motto for the party's campaign against deep sea oil drilling in New Zealand, with its launch at Leisure Island drawing a crowd of about 30 people.
The campaign is about getting government to look at options to protect New Zealand against the risks of deep sea oil drilling.
'We have a five point plan which includes looking at the effects of deep sea oil drilling.”
The plan proposes to redirect money raised from fuel taxes on boaties into better environmental disaster preparedness.
'We think it should go towards Maritime New Zealand to help them in having a greater capability in responding.”
A part of this would be the purchase of an emergency response multi purpose vessel, which Gareth believes could have removed oil from the Rena.
He says New Zealand Maritime Union advised the government over a year ago to purchase such a vessel to assist in the event of an offshore oil spill.
'Having an emergency response vessel on hand for the clean-up could have made all the difference in the five days of calm weather to get oil off the ship.
'It is becoming clear that Maritime New Zealand didn't have the resources to deal fast enough with a significant oil spill and that's something we need to look into.
'A specialised emergency response vessel that could have got oil of the Rena seems like a minimum piece of response equipment New Zealand needs.”
He says the risks are real of oil leak disasters if deep sea exploration is conducted.
'Just overnight we heard Petrobras is in the middle of a well blow out. So far, 90 tonnes of oil has leaked into the ocean.”
Gareth says he would like to see Royal Commission conducted into the Rena disaster.
4 comments
Comprehensive, well thought out
Posted on 17-11-2011 12:22 | By Otters
The Greens "Rena Policy" is balanced, well thought out, and will do a great deal to protect against further marine disasters as well as ensuring more local jobs and better preparedness should there ever be another such disaster in the future
Important issue
Posted on 17-11-2011 12:37 | By ronillian
It's great to see some news covering important issues rather than the distraction of the "teapot tapes". To quote a prominent politician: "These are the issues that New Zealanders care about".
AMBIGUOUS HEADING
Posted on 21-11-2011 13:45 | By MISS ADVENTURE
The "Diving" part is correct for sure.
You can't support dipstickery
Posted on 22-11-2011 19:45 | By POCO O POCO
If you can tolerate a party that rabidly supports Carbon tax, special privileged treatment for Maori a flawed Foreshore and Seabed Policy and other irrational policies then this outfit is for you.If they stuck with reasonable Conservation and Environmental protection without being out in left field then that is worthy of support but this other stuff is away with the fairies material.
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