Oil spill in Wellington Harbour not actually oil or a spill

Monday, 30 April 2018

Tuesday's oil spill in Wellington Harbour is a genuine case of nothing-to-see-here.

That is because it is merely a practise being run by Z Energy to hone skills in case there is a real spill.

Wellington Harbourmaster Grant Nalder said the operation would start about 9.30am near the car park at the end of the oil jetty at Seaview in Lower Hutt.

The initial 'tier one' response would see Z Energy trying to clean up after a minor problem but then the theoretical problem would worsen about 11am with a complete fracture of the pipeline.

The response would then be 'tier 2' meaning Fire and Emergency New Zealand as well as Greater Wellington Regional Council would become involved.