A Bay of Plenty political stoush is brewing as Tauranga Independent MP Brendan Horan accuses fellow National MPs Simon Bridges and Tony Ryall of 'throwing mud back” in Tauranga ratepayers' faces.

The Independent MP's comments come after the Rena's owners and insurers announced the submerged accommodation block of the wrecked ship will be cut from beneath the sea and removed from the Astrolabe Reef.

Tauranga Independent MP Brendan Horan is criticising Tauranga MP Simon Bridges of not listening to the Tauranga public.

'They haven't stepped up to the plate in regards to the Rena at all. Pretty soon we will be coming up to two years – and it's still there,” says Brendan.

When it grounded Brendan says the Government promised to hear submissions in support of removing the wreck from the reef, about 25km off the coast of Tauranga.

He firmly believes Simon and Tony are not listening to Tauranga residents, who he says are in favour of full removal of the Rena wreck, instead focussing on ministerial roles outside of the region.

Last weekend Brendan picked up handfuls of plastic beads along the Papamoa beach line, which he says illustrates his concerns.

'A Government order, which called on the ship owners to remove the vessel when it ran aground in October 2011, is still in force. Iwi groups and other locals are asking why the Government is now in discussion with the owners to leave much of the wreck on the reef.

'We now have two appointed Crown Ministers. Both were initially elected locally to represent the Tauranga district yet they seem to have lost touch with their responsibilities to our city and district.”

In the last month, Simon has attended receptions in Hamilton, Hawera and Kaikoura along with trips overseas. He visited the Olympic Park in London with health and safety experts; and while in Geneva attended the 102^nd session of the International Labour Organisation Conference.

'I would like to see them do a little more focus on Tauranga.”

He is also accusing the MPs of continually failing to back-up promises made once elected. These include failing to adopt Route K in the State Highway Programme, and preventing power price hikes – currently 15 per cent above the national average.

'Route K – that should have been on the Government books for a long time. We have two ministers and it's still a noose around ratepayer's necks, with $10,000 in interest per day,” says Brendan.

'It's a cynical exercise at the expense of ratepayers. They will keep on going with it until it's close to the elections.

Simon rubbishes these claims saying he is proud to represent the Tauranga region on a daily basis – both in Parliament and around the community.

In the last week, Simon has attended numerous community events including last Friday's BNZ Bay of Plenty ExportNZ Awards and sitting down with iwi members to discuss Rena issues.

'That's the case pretty much each and every week. That's more than a lot of local MPs who aren't Cabinet ministers too,” says Simon.

'The fact of the matter is, given that Tony and I are Cabinet ministers, we can do a better job for the people of Tauranga than we would otherwise be able to do.

'Other than from Mr Horan, I never get that kind of feedback.”

Tony agrees with Simon saying Brendan is just 'politicking”.

'It is an honour to serve our region, and both Simon Bridges and I spend huge time and energy working for the people of the Bay of Plenty.”