16 Jun 2015

Manawatu oil spill clean up under way

12:01 pm on 16 June 2015

Clearing up oil spilled along the Manawatu coast is likely to take a couple of days, the regional council says.

Foxton Beach

Foxton Beach Photo: Horizons Regional Council

Horizons regional council was alerted yesterday to the oil dotted intermittently along 10 kilometres of coast at Waitarere, Foxton, Himatangi and Tangimoana beaches.

Workers with shovels and bin-liners have been cleaning up the blobs today.

A clump of oil on Foxton Beach - 15 June 2015.

Blobs of oil are on Foxton Beach and other parts of the coast. Photo: Horizons Regional Council

The council's on-scene commander, Ian Lowe, told Morning Report no more oil had washed ashore on the overnight tide and the situation was under control.

Samples of the oil had been sent for testing to try to determine its source. The council says the risk to marine life is minimal.

The council is asking that people to stay clear of the beaches while teams carry out the clean up.