http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15230941

Interesting... and sad. Is anyone here heading out that way soon?

The public is being warned to stay away from Mount Maunganui Beach.

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/co...010-1lgqx.html

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10757900

They are now calling this oil spill New Zealand's worst maritime disaster. Hundreds of dead birds have been found on Mount Maunganui beaches. According to the New Zealand Herald, "Environmental groups and Bay of Plenty residents are bracing themselves for an ecological catastrophe as oil continues to wash up the region's beaches."

New Zealand is home to many unique maritime animals and its East Coast beaches are beautiful--so sad to see this threatened due to carelessness.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/asia/news/...ectid=10758293

http://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/1...-getting-worse

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...pdcL_blog.html

Recent photos of the Rena and oiled birds on the beaches:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/im...122111#8150099