Having observed what happened on Mount beaches, I am somewhat confused as to what the individual claims for losses are all about. Certainly the Papamoa beaches were badly affected but the Mount beach (with the exception of the rocks at the base of the Mount) and Pilot Bay didn't fare too badly.
I find it hard to believe many of those businesses claiming losses that were not in the fishing industry or sea charter work would have suffered any great loss. There was no evidence of any lack of tourists or sightseers, in fact quite the reverse - people actually came to have a look at the distant wreck from the Mount/Papamoa coastline.
You cannot blame the closure of the Mount track, Mount Hot Pool closures or the world economic downturn, etc. on the Rena grounding.
Before anyone goes off on a tangent, yes this maritime disaster was caused by the negligence of the Rena crew and should never have occurred. The Rena owners and its insurers should be fully responsible for all legitimate damage and losses caused, along with all costs for clean up and salvage work. However, $200 million salvage costs plus what look like a multitude of private business claims including the Motiti claim look to be over the top.
The $27.4 million accepted by the NZ Government for legitimate taxpayer losses is not enough particularly as we were all assured by the Government minister in charge that all costs would be met by the ship owners.
There is a substantial shortfall of around $50 million it seems so what is going on here?

S Paterson, Arataki.