Goff suits up to clean beaches

Labour Party leader Phil Goff is in Tauranga today seeing for himself the clean up efforts that are continuing to take place since the stranding of the cargo ship Rena.

Rena ran aground on Astrolabe Reef a month ago today on October 5.

Labour leader Phil Goff leading a hand to help clean up Papamoa Beach.

Salvage crews have worked, weather permitting, to get oil off the ship and are now looking at removing containers from the vessel.

Clean-up crews have also continued to hit the beaches to eliminate oil residue since the initial major clean up just under a month ago.

Phil says while the beaches may look clean, looks can be deceiving.

'When you look at the beach it looks very clean, but when you get up close there's a lot of oil on the beach.”

During his visit to Tauranga, Phil will also go to the Wildlife Centre at Te Maunga before heading to the ICC unit in the old Foodtown Supermarket on 14th Ave.

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20 comments

photo op?

Posted on 05-11-2011 12:51 | By Steve Morris

I wonder if Phil did his whole 4 hour shift like the rest of us or was this just another photo op?


PHOTO SHOP JOBBIES

Posted on 05-11-2011 13:45 | By SCOTT NUFFIN4U

Would wonder about it all, most likely just a copy and paste job on that one, call it "to paint a head on ..." sadly that will lower the IQ level on the beach whatever way you look at it.


An improvement.

Posted on 05-11-2011 13:50 | By kiwisan

Well I guess it is a much better look than his earlier shiney shoe and suit with spade pose anyway.


Steve, they all do photos ops

Posted on 05-11-2011 13:52 | By Gee Really

Just to keep things fair, I thinks it's great that the PM, our MPs and even the Leader of the Opposition turn up to see what's happening in Tauranga. Of course it's also a photo op. National, Labour and the others are all the same in that regard.


Walking the talk!!

Posted on 05-11-2011 14:27 | By waitandwatch

that is what we need to see. not ministers sitting or standing from high podiums talking big but have not done the real soul or sand searching act. godd on you Mr Goff. tauranga needs more people like u. it is a different perspective when u have to kneel down to get a macro view of life too. we need to do this more often, but wait do we need a real disater to do this???? can we not be more proactive. who has held the reins????


Good on ya' Phil!

Posted on 05-11-2011 15:04 | By Kiwimon

At least he's on his knees doing it! I didn't see Mr Key or his little "knight" getting their hands dirty but I might be wrong?


Only seen during disasters

Posted on 05-11-2011 16:39 | By choppereid

Why is it our MP's only think it prudent to use NZ disasters or significant events for photo op's. I would have much more respect for them if they visited grassroots NZ on a regular basis and did this sort of thing, not just wait for a feel good photo op, to score cheap election points. Sick of MP's pretending they care when all they care about is votes...


@kiwimom

Posted on 05-11-2011 16:42 | By kiwisan

LOL Yes he does have a minime that follows him around Tauranga area! They look like Zapod Beeblebrok from Hitchhikers guide to the Galaxy. Two heads on the one body:)


Hang on ....

Posted on 05-11-2011 18:18 | By ShadE

is that a clown suit?! Why yes it is ...


Yuk

Posted on 05-11-2011 20:27 | By carpedeum

Pardon me while Im sick into the sand-that is blatant electioneering- I believe that when he came to Papamoa previously, the clean up crew were held up for two hours while he visited and had a photo shoot with a spade.


Goff

Posted on 05-11-2011 22:03 | By RobtDavies

To be clear: @ Steve Morris - Goff was there for 1.5 hours - and spent all of it on his hands and knees like the other volunteers. I'm sure Phil would be happy to show Key how it's done. @carpedeum - Not sure what information you're operating off, but no delays were caused by Phil's visit yesterday (or any other day for that matter). I'd appreciate it if you could perhaps provide some evidence for the statement....


What.....?

Posted on 06-11-2011 00:06 | By philiphallen

Tell Phil Goff to bugger off.....


COME ON FOLKS

Posted on 06-11-2011 00:25 | By SCARLET PIMPINEL

Ya just have to accept that the wanna be politicians will be running around like headless 'turkeys' looking for any chance to get a photo shoot and a hope of a vote, don't worry when the real work is to be done like the clean up on Motiti they will be no where to be seen then. Of course same applies after the ballot box closes in a few weeks anyway.


Smacks of desparation!

Posted on 06-11-2011 09:11 | By Honedaman

Let's face it, Phil Goff (with his low poll ratings) is desparate for any kind of publicity!


FOR GOFF SAKE

Posted on 06-11-2011 10:29 | By YOGI

Looks to be more than desperate, with the poll rating sitting at less than the margin of error, you could say that there is plenty of room for improvement somewhere ... anywhere ... Labour is suffering from "Helen syndrome" being that anyone of any savy was cleaned out during her tyranical leadership era, so once she was vacant there was and still is a void yet to be filled.


Say What You Will

Posted on 06-11-2011 13:57 | By rachstewart

Publicity stunt, Tick, but does it portray that there is lots of work still needed on the beach. Yes. Still seems like there is no long term plan on cleaning the rest of the beach now that mount to tay street is open. Good on the volunteers that are doing the work, but how about some paid workers on the beach? How about a real clean up effort rather than a volunteer effort.


Goff can criticize but doesn't have the answers

Posted on 06-11-2011 14:59 | By Jolene Publique

It is easy for him to say everything was done slowly, but a little bit of research on his behalf would have made him look more informed. A quick look through the MaritimeNZ website would have given him some information which he could have answered the questions, "what would you have done in the same situation?". Rather than "I don't have the facts", try using some examples. That would be what i would have done if I was attacking someone's effort, have ammunition.

http://www.maritimenz.govt.nz/Incident/timeline.asp


All hands on deck

Posted on 06-11-2011 23:06 | By FiKat

@RachStewart - FYI As well as utilising the volunteers, people are being paid to help clean the beaches. Ref: http://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/17985-rena-offers-employment-opportunity.html


Previous means the one before

Posted on 07-11-2011 16:21 | By carpedeum

Robt Davies-perhaps you could re read my blog and you will see that my reference was to Goff's PREVIOUS photo shoot - no white suit and with the spade in his hand- and FYI my source was a person from the crew who had their time wasted by Goff.


Posted on 07-11-2011 21:42 | By RobtDavies

@carpedeum - I read you right the first time. I said that no delays had been caused yesterday or any other day for that matter. I was with Phil on his previous visit, and I'm telling you that no delay - and certainly not a two hour delay, which is what you alleged - was caused. Either you're lying or your friend is.


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