A few months ago I told you of the ship that ran aground off our coast: The Rena. It was a disaster that should never have happened. In the last few days the ship has broken in half and debris, containers, and now oil are all threatening the coastline of the area I live in.
This is a map of the Bay of Plenty in the North Island of NZ.
I live in the town of Katikati. The following photos were taken by a friend who lives in Waihi Beach. She is a photographer. If you would like to see more of her photos from what has been happening here visit Paula’s Vantage Light Photography Facebook page.
The photos are all copyrighted to Vantage Light Photography and may not be used without permission (which I have).
Thanks Paula !!!!!
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
***
These are just a few of the shots Paula took of the beach where she lives.
There is little to say that these photos don’t already say for me.
***
Off the coast is Matakana Island – it is where I learnt to water-ski – and it is also being damaged by the debris.
***
These are earlier posts of mine when the Rena ran aground:
What the hell is going on with the Rena and the New Zealand media ???
Oil spill worsens as the Rena starts to crack.
***
If you would like more updates here are links to news sights that will provide a better recap.
Related articles
- Half of stricken Rena finally sinks off NZ coast (smh.com.au)
- Rena junk could be swept 150km north (news.smh.com.au)
- Oilspill Update : Rena sinking inevitable (environmentaleducationuk.wordpress.com)
- NZ beaches under threat from Rena debris (news.smh.com.au)
- Half of cargo ship sinking off New Zealand (cbsnews.com)
How sad! The photos are beautiful (in a sad way). What is horrible is the oil and the contaminated waste.
LikeLike
It sure is – Waihi Beach is such a beautiful place – it is heartbreaking to see this…
LikeLike
What a mess and sad for the wildlife impacted. The clean up had many people out to help and the whole slick raised awareness – let’s hope we learn from this disaster!
LikeLike
i wish I believed we would…alas I fear it is otherwise.
😦
LikeLike
My heart just breaks for you. We had our own experience with oil, of course, with the Deepwater Horizon explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. And now, there are first reports of debris from the Japanese tsunami being sighted on this side of the Pacific.
I watch the container ships transiting the Houston Ship Channel almost daily, and often have marveled that there are not more accidents with them. This is a particularly sad example of what can happen.
LikeLike
It really is – when it goes wrong it goes so terribly wrong. Thank you for your thoughts.
LikeLike
great shots, Jo. What next for our little country?
LikeLike
Thanks Margaret – I don’t like to think about it.
LikeLike
😥
LikeLike
Yep Robyn. 😦
LikeLike
These photos are difficult to look at, not that they aren’t beautiful in their own way, but it always saddens me when nature is threatened by human folly. Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I hope your area recovers quickly.
LikeLike
I agree with all that you say…
LikeLike
Being on the other side of the world, I somehow missed this news story when it happened. 😦 Shocking and sad event, beautiful pictures.
LikeLike
It is a very sad event in our lives…
LikeLike
The shots are awesome!! I’m so sorry though!!!
LikeLike
Thanks Cee…
LikeLike
I watched it breaking up on the TV over here JO, but maybe now they can start to clear it al up.
LikeLike
They are having problems because of the weather we are having…
LikeLike
I heard about this disaster on BBC News. The regular U.S. news outlets barely understand that there’s a whole other world out there. I am so sorry about this. It seems like it’s been one thing after another for New Zealand. Thanks for sharing these startling photographs. What a disaster for the marine life. Can you imagine giant cargo holds floating by your head while you are trying to eat? Just awful.
LikeLike
I have heard from other people that news in the USA is narrowly focused on events that happen or affect Americans.
LikeLike
Excellent share, Jo.
LikeLike
Thanks Hook !!
🙂
LikeLike
I’ve been following this sad event over time and the photo I originally saw of the Rena breaking up with seemingly a minor inconvienence. So thank you (Paula’s wonderful photos) for sharing the truth.
LikeLike
You’re welcome – Paula’s photos are wonderful – if heartbeaking…
LikeLike
I remember your first post on this Jo, I just as sad and angry as I was then. “For Profit” might as well mean “Against the Earth”. 😦
LikeLike
You have the right idea sadly…
😦
LikeLike