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 News
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 October 17, 2011
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As Oil Spill Near New Zealand Worsens, Containment Hampered by High Winds
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In an accident that occurred on Wednesday, October 5, a Liberian oil
tanker traveling in calm waters collided with reefs in the Bay of Plenty
offshore New Zealand’s North Island.
Although the crew was uninjured, the ship's hull was breached, with an
initial 20 tons of oil that leaked into the water. Storms arriving since
then have caused more of the toxic substance to be released, with an
estimated 350 tons that had been discharged into the bay by Tuesday.
As New Zealand Environment Minister Nick Smith ranked the event as the
country's most significant environmental disaster ever, gusting winds
from the storm shut down both containment and rescue operations, with
signs of oil fouling reaching once-pristine beaches in locales like
Tauranga.
Meanwhile, crews have been working to remove the oil
totaling 1,700 tons from the tanker, along with some other hazardous
materials.
A public health warning has been issued, advising
avoidance of contaminated beaches, where touching the oil or inhaling
its fumes can cause irritation and other damage, while consuming seafood
from the affected areas was also highly discouraged. Another
distressing result of the disaster is its effect on wildlife, with a
number of birds already perished as personnel work to rescue oil-covered
seabirds, penguins, and seals.
Greenpeace representatives also stated that whales and dolphins calving in the area could be affected as well.
http://english.cntv.cn/program/newshour/20111010/110108.shtml
http://www.globalanimal.org/2011/10/10/penguins-cleaned-after-new-zealand-oil-spill/54236
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