Schoolchildren’s petition gets Parliament support over 'ticking time bomb' shipwreck
Sunday, 23 March 2025
Parliament’s Petitions Committee has swung behind a call from Auckland school pupils to deal with an oil-leaking shipwreck threatening an environmental disaster.
In 2023, Room 3 at Northcote Intermediate School delivered a petition to Parliament calling for action on the RMS Niagara, which was sunk by a German mine in June 1940 after leaving Auckland.
The Niagara carried 590 gold ingots, most of which were recovered.
It also carried thousands of tons of oil, which has leaked into the Hauraki Gulf for decades.
Repeated calls from environmental, iwi, and marine groups for the wreck to be surveyed to ascertain how much oil remains on board, and what the risk of a severe spill is, have failed to sway successive governments.
Concerns have continued to mount that the 85-year-old wreck could collapse at any time, causing the country’s worst environmental catastrophe.
Five types of seabird, including extremely endangered species, breed only in the area likely to be affected by a spill.
Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) has twice advocated for a survey, only to be told by ministers there was no money for it, despite MNZ estimating a cost around $1 million.
This is despite the German government indicating it would be consider helping fund the operation, if approached.
Now, Parliament’s Petitions Committee, made up of cross-party MPs, has responded to the pupils’ petition, and recommended to the Government that MNZ prioritise a survey and risk assessment.
“We agree that New Zealanders deserve to know whether the quantity of fuel oil remaining on the shipwreck poses a risk to the environment,” the committee said.
“We recognise that an oil spill could potentially affect iconic and valued species, oceans, and coastlines.”
The committee acknowledged the financial constraints every government operated under, but said managing risks relied on accurate information.
The committee, chaired by Labour MP Greg O’Connor, paid tribute to the pupils, especially Maddie Davison, Matilda Holmes, and Holly Littlewood, who appeared before it.
“They are articulate and passionate advocates for the environment.
“We were moved by their hope that other children will be able to grow up enjoying the beaches and harbour that they love.”
Holmes said it was “crazy and amazing” that a random idea one afternoon in class had taken them all the way to Parliament, and this week’s news.
“I think it shows you can do anything if you set your mind to it.”
But Davison noted how long it had already taken to get the situation noticed, and worried how long it would be before action was taken.
“We hope it won’t be too late to save the Hauraki Gulf.”
The pupils’ teacher, Erin Tiplady, said the school was proud and excited about the committee’s recommendation, but realised there was no guarantee the Government would act on it, or when.
“But we’d like to think it’s a step in the right direction.”
Tiplady said it was a lesson that, “It doesn’t matter what your age is, your voice matters. And if you do the right thing, people will listen to you.”
The co-chair of environmental watchdog the Hauraki Gulf Forum said the schoolchildren had shown “wonderful environmental leadership”.
Nicola MacDonald said surveying the wreck was crucial to understand how much oil was on board, and how likely it was to spill from the rusting Niagara.
The money involved was “peanuts” compared to the cost of a clean-up, she said.
“We need to get this blinkin’ ticking time bomb, and stop the clock, and get it out of here.
“Let’s get the job done.”
However, Associate Transport Minister James Meager has followed his predecessors in taking a wait-and-see approach.
“The Government does not intend to conduct the survey of the Niagara at this time,” he told the Sunday Star-Times.
“Maritime NZ remains the lead agency to respond should a significant oil leak occur.”
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