Media advisory - People are urged to stay off local beaches

11 October 2011: 12.00pm

People are urged to stay off local beaches, as the Rena oil spill response team is receiving reports that people are playing with oil and attempting to clean it up.

Oil is not only toxic, but people doing this risk spreading the oil further and creating more harm to their local environment.

Our oil spill response teams are the best equipped to pick up oil as it comes ashore.

Anyone wishing to help the oil recovery effort or report oil should contact 0800 645 774.

People “playing” with oil are also risk spreading it to their homes and other areas.

Pet owners are also urged to keep their animals off the beach. Anyone concerned their pet may have been affected by oil should contact their local vet.

Sightings of any oiled wildlife should be reported to us on 0800 333 771.