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Information for volunteers

View beach cleanup images on our incident gallery

Other numbers for the public

Oiled shoreline and response maps

 

Key clean-up statistics

• 1,041 tonnes of waste collected
• A total of 8,061 volunteers are registered in the volunteer database
• 12 active groups in Adopt-A-Beach programme

Information for volunteers

To register as a volunteer you can either:

• go online to the Bay of Plenty beach clean-up website
• call 0800 884 881 ext. 7362
• email renavolunteers@gmail.com

 

NOSC on the clean-up operations

MNZ National On Scene Commander Nick Quinn says the response from the community to the unfolding situation from the stranded vessel Rena has been tremendous.

“We have enormous support from the local community who have turned up willing and ready to work,” Mr Quinn said.

“This is hugely appreciated and demonstrates the passion the local community have for their area. We are working hard to minimise the impact of this spill on this region.”

Thousands of people have now taken part in cleaning up the oil, with volunteers reaching the milestone of 50 clean-up events on 23 October.

“Cleaning up the oil remains our priority but we are now dealing with three types of pollution – the containers, the contents of the containers, and the oil. We have restricted beach access to allow this operation to be undertaken effectively.”

Mr Quinn said the oil spill response team was prepared for a long clean-up process.

“This will go on for some time, and the same beaches will get re-oiled and re-cleaned on a daily basis. This is where it gets exasperating but we have experience in this and will just continue working through the process.”

There have been offers to the oil spill response team of heavy equipment to assist the clean-up operation, however Mr Quinn said experience had proven this could push oil into the sand and cause further damage to the environment.

“We are considering all oil spill response options, but right now the basic shovel is top of the list, in terms of removing oil from the beach.”

Mr Quinn reminded members of the public to stay away from the beaches unless they had already registered as volunteers. This was to protect public safety, and also to allow clean-up crews to get on with the job at hand.

 

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Clean-up progress

• The waste is being collected by companies working through a consented waste management plan.
• Potentially toxic waste from the containers is also being disposed of through the consented waste management process.
• Members of the public are reminded not to collect oil themselves, but to work through the official response team. This will ensure waste is disposed of correctly.
• Beach access is now open from Mount Maunganiu to Tay Street, with restrictions still in place from there to Maketu Point, including the Maketu Estuary.
• The heaviest concentration of oil coming onto the beach has been at Papamoa.
• There are two skimmer barges working in the harbour to pick up flotsam and another are in operation collecting oil.

Is a resource consent needed to clean up the beach?
There are no such impediments to any clean-up activity in relation to Rena. MNZ or their agents are able to undertake any activities under Permitted Activity Rule 52 of the Regional Coastal Plan. Tauranga City Council has waived the access rights restricted under any bylaws it operates as well.

Oiled shoreline and response maps

Oiled shoreline and response map Waihi - Pukehina: 4.00pm 15 January  [PDF: 575Kb, 1 page]

Other numbers for the public

• To report affected wildlife: 0800 333 771.
• To report containers or debris coming ashore: 0800 331 771
• To report oiled dogs or other domestic animals: 0800 333 771.
• Health-related queries: 0800 611 116.

 

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