Key Takeaways
- Mahurangi oyster farmers are still waiting for a full compensation package after a sewage spill destroyed their crops two months ago
- The farmers received an initial $1 million in compensation, but are waiting for a second payment that was promised before the end of the year
- The reputational damage from the spill is a major concern for the farmers, who are struggling to recover financially and revive their product’s reputation
- The farmers are frustrated with the back and forth with Watercare, who they feel are stalling and not providing adequate compensation
- The incident has had a significant impact on the farmers, with many considering closing their businesses and struggling to pay debts and bills
Introduction to the Crisis
The Mahurangi oyster farmers are facing a crisis after a sewage spill in late October destroyed their crops and contaminated thousands of oysters in the Mahurangi river. The spill, which was caused by a Watercare pump station, has had a devastating impact on the farmers, who are still waiting for a full compensation package. The initial $1 million in compensation provided by Watercare was split among 10 affected farmers, but it was not enough to cover the losses incurred. The farmers are now waiting for a second payment that was promised before the end of the year, but as the deadline approaches, they are getting increasingly desperate.
The Financial Struggle
The financial struggle faced by the farmers is a major concern. Tom Waters, the owner of Matakana Oysters, has only been able to farm for around six weeks this year, and his bills and debts have quickly built up. The $100,000 in compensation he received was gone in 48 hours, and he is not sure how he will carry on if he does not see more compensation soon. The situation is similar for other farmers, who are struggling to pay debts and bills. Jim Aitken from Mahurangi Oysters said that his compensation went straight into paying off debt incurred from the sewage spill, and he is close to losing all faith in Watercare.
Reputational Damage
The reputational damage caused by the spill is also a major concern for the farmers. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of Mahurangi oysters, and the farmers are struggling to revive their product’s reputation. Waters said that the spill was devastating, and it has been hard to bounce back from. The farmers are worried that the reputational impact is too much to recover from, and they are calling for accountability from Watercare. Aitken said that he wants compensation to make up for the fact that he has had to stop two roles because he cannot afford to pay them, and he wants to make sure that this never happens again.
The Back and Forth with Watercare
The farmers are frustrated with the back and forth with Watercare, who they feel are stalling and not providing adequate compensation. The farmers agreed to an independent loss assessor reporting on how much further compensation was needed, but Watercare came back with a request for more information. The farmers said that they have already given them all the information they have, and they are getting tired of jumping through hoops for Watercare. Lynette Dunn, the chair of the Mahurangi oyster farmers association, said that they were originally promised compensation by the 19th of December, but they are still waiting.
The Road to Recovery
The road to recovery for the farmers will be long and difficult. They have got to recover financially, but also revive their product’s reputation. The farmers are calling for accountability from Watercare, and they want to make sure that this never happens again. In a statement, Watercare chief operations officer Mark Bourne said that they expect the loss assessment report to be finalized in the new year, and they will be able to confirm the next steps and timing. However, the farmers are skeptical, and they are waiting to see if Watercare will follow through on their promises. The incident has had a significant impact on the farmers, and it will take time and effort to recover from the damage caused by the sewage spill.
