Iwi want Rena gone
Iwi involved in the Rena clean-up still want the entire wreck removed, despite the ship's owners and insurers saying it would be easier to leave the remains on the Astrolabe reef.
Daina Shipping and its insurer on Monday said totally removing the wreck would be difficult and dangerous, take much longer and ruin more of the reef.
Captain John Owen, the senior claims manager for the Rena's insurer The Swedish Club, said the significant costs and risks of trying to fully remove the wreck were not thought to be warranted.
The wreck would not be a navigation hazard and should not be a threat to the marine environment. Work would make it safer for recreational diving and it would be monitored.
There are still thought to be about 2000 litres of oil and lubricants aboard the ship.
But Ngai Te Rangi chairman Charlie Tawhiao says the iwi groups involved in the environmental restoration following the grounding have always wanted the wreck removed.
Iwi hadn't seen any reason to change their minds, he told NZ Newswire.
"Iwi have signified very clearly they wanted to see it gone completely, and nothing left."
They were expecting to see more information on the companies' plans over the next few weeks.
Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby says he would prefer the wreck to be removed entirely. But if that was not practical then it should be made physically and environmentally safe, and there should be enough funds to monitor the wreck over the next 10 to 20 years.
There were differing views in the community on what should happen to the Rena, he told NZ Newswire.
The Rena ran aground off the coast of Tauranga in October 2011, spilling oil and debris into the water, in what became New Zealand's worst maritime environmental disaster.
More than $275 million had been spent in 16 months of salvage operations - including the recovery of nearly 1500 tonnes of heavy fuel oil from the ship and 1007 of the 1368 containers on board when it grounded.
The ship has broken in two. The stern is sitting on the sea floor under 55m of water, while salvors are working to reduce the bow to a metre below the surface.
Leaving the remains of the wreck on the reef will require resource consent and it will likely go to the Environment Court.
Capt Owen said the companies would be talking to the Bay of Plenty community, which will include more hui with local iwi and hapu groups before a final decision is made.
NZN