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these, while many will favour community meetings where they can engage face-to-face with the agencies responsible for the response. No matter what channels are used, communications must be as clear as possible about roles and responsibilities – such as who is responsible for which action and who is accountable for which decision. They should also paint an accurate picture of what is being done and the circumstances in which the response is being delivered. This is particularly important for maritime events. As is the case with the Rena, these will often be dangerous, complex and but often unseen. As the Maori pepeha (saying) goes: He heu uta ka kitea, he heu moana e kore e kitea. What one does on land is evident, what one does at sea is not. There are two fundamental truths about the communications space. The first is: If you leave it vacant, someone else will move in and it will not be easy to retake it. The second truth is: It is the field on which the battle of agendas is waged. Finally, communities connect with the sea. Everyone knew at the outset that any release of oil from the Rena would have an adverse impact on the waters and coastline around Tauranga and later potentially right around the Bay of Plenty and beyond. While people have been affected differently by this event, a common thread weaves through their view of it. At its core, the defining impact across the community has been an emotional one from iwi, hapu and others who have a spiritual connection with their environment, to those for whom the sea and beaches are a recreational space and those who make their living from the sea. While a relatively small number of people reacted emotionally but did not "respond", a much larger group reacted positively and responded by volunteering for various clean-up activities or offering to help in other ways. The almost 8000 people currently on the volunteer database have done outstanding work in helping to restore their beaches, while the efforts of the more than 150 businesses and myriads of other people and organisations who offered their generous support cannot be overlooked. There is no doubt that in any future incident of this kind, the involvement of the affected community and the use of volunteers will be incorporated into the response planning from the outset. One of the lessons we have learnt from the Rena is that we need to capitalise on this community passion while it is fresh, and not wait until it turns into frustration. Reflecting on the importance of leadership to the Rena response provides the perfect context for me to thank Cath Taylor for her contribution to Maritime New Zealand as the chief executive and director over the last five years, including during the Rena response. As well as this outstanding effort, Cath has also worked very hard and with passion to progress important changes within the maritime sector. I also welcome Keith Manch, who takes over the helm. I know the authority's members look forward to working with him through some interesting days ahead. Finally, I want to thank the many organisations and individuals from New Zealand and overseas who have worked alongside us in Maritime NZ with dedication, enthusiasm and skill to deliver the response to the grounding of the Rena. At its height there were up to 800 people directly involved in the response, with thousands more volunteers supporting us. We could not have done it without you. Every one of you has proven the truth of this whakatauki (proverb): Ma tini, ma mano ka rapu te whai. With cooperation, anything can be achieved. Recognised and recommended by Professional Skipper magazine as one of our leading marine artists. January/February 2012 Professional Skipper 31 VIP.S85 VIP.S75