Tuna boat not a welcome sight

Some Karikari Peninsula residents were less than delighted to see the Sanford tuna boat San Nikunau anchored off Tokerau Beach last week, but she didn't stay long.

She is believed to have arrived around midday Sunday, and had sailed by Friday morning.

The Northland Regional Council harbour master was overseas last week, but it appeared the council was unaware of the boat's presence in Far North waters.

The $25 million boat has had a colourful past, and is currently the subject of pollution charges in the United States (arising from the alleged discharge of oily bilge water), conspiracy and obstructing justice, laid in American Samoa and to be heard in Washington.

Held in Pago Pago for some time, the boat was released in December after the company posted a $1 million bond, and is believed to have resumed fishing on February 1.

Sanford has said it will actively defend itself against the charges, and is confident of succeeding. The charges carry total maximum fines of $4.4 million.

The San Nikunau came to international attention for more positive reasons last year, when she came across three Tokelau teenagers who had been adrift in an aluminium dinghy for 50 days, and had begun drinking seawater.

The boys had drifted 1300 kilometres before they were found, RNZAF searches having been unsuccessful.

A spokesman for the San Nikunau said at the time the teenagers would have been unlikely to survive another day, although their major problem at the time of their rescue was sunburn.