New Zealand oil spill is 'worst maritime disaster' (BBC)

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The oil leaking from a stranded cargo ship off New Zealand has become the country's worst maritime environmental disaster, the government has said.

Officials say 130-150 tonnes of oil may have leaked from the vessel, as much as 10 times previous estimates.

The container ship, the 775ft (236m) Rena, ran aground on the Astrolabe Reef off the port of Tauranga on Wednesday.

As workers scoop oil from beaches, bad weather has put a temporary halt to operations to pump oil off the vessel.

"I'd like to acknowledge this event has come to a stage where it is New Zealand's most significant maritime environmental disaster," Environment Minister Nick Smith told a news briefing in Tauranga.
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more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15251319