Tauranga based New Zealand First spokesperson Brendan Horan says charging the owners of the Rena six months after the ship grounded 'highlights the slack response to the disaster” by Maritime New Zealand.

MNZ laid charges against the Greece-based Daina Shipping Company on Thursday in relation to the grounding of the container ship on October 5.

Brendan Horan.

'The prosecution is welcomed, but the pedestrian response has contributed to a nightmare groundhog day scenario for people living and working in the area,” says the New Zealand First transport spokesperson.

'Daily reports on water toxicity levels at beaches hit hard by the Rena oil spills are needed so there is a measure of trust and certainty amongst those of us who want to use the beaches safely.”

Brendan is questioning how oil is still leaking from the Rena six months after the ship hit the reef.

'The Government claimed before the election that there was no more oil on the boat.”
He says those affected by the disaster know this claim to be untrue.

Brendan is also concerned about the fact 'fully laden containers continue to end up lost at sea.”

'Why weren't they tagged with GPS beacons so authorities know at all times where they are located?

'By failing to do this, Maritime New Zealand has created a major shipping hazard which has forced the cancellation of a major yacht race over the Easter weekend.”
Brendan says it's time the 'Government did the right thing and cleaned up this polluting boat on a rock”.