Editorial: Still we wait for the facts on Rena

It is 4 1/2 months since the Rena came to rest on Astrolabe Reef, besmirching the ocean with its cargo of chemicals, animal pelts, meat patties and the precious mementos of families such as the Fellows.

A waterlogged child's backpack belonging to Grace Fellows, 6, was one of the first and only artefacts the family recovered when the container carrying most of their personal belongings was lost overboard and some of its tattered remains washed up on Matakana Island.

Families such as the Fellows might take some comfort in knowing two people have admitted guilt over the grounding of the container ship.

The captain of the Rena, who we cannot name because of continued court suppression orders, has pleaded guilty to six charges: a Maritime Transport Act charge of causing unnecessary danger or risk to persons or property; a Resource Management Act charge relating to the discharge of harmful substances or contaminants into the coastal marine area; and four charges under the Crimes Act of wilfully attempting to pervert the course of justice.

While many will welcome this development, there is still a long way to go before the initial clean-up is complete.

According to latest Maritime New Zealand information, more than 1000 cubic metres of waste has been recovered so far. The agency has said there were 1368 containers on board when Rena ran aground on October 5, and 86 containers are believed to have washed overboard on October 11. The ship eventually broke in two and began to sink into the reef in the first weeks of this year.

So far, 561 containers have been removed from the stricken ship and 71 have been collected from the sea or shore.

Workers continue to collect debris along our coastline - everything from fridges to gloves to milk powder.

Time may have dampened the furious response from the Western Bay community to this catastrophe on our doorstep, but many will still take satisfaction in seeing the captain (and his navigation officer who also pleaded guilty to four offences yesterday and is yet to plea on a fifth charge) take responsibility.

However, what was missing from court yesterday was a summary of facts. Let's put aside the fact this man has admitted his role in the Rena's stranding but continues to enjoy anonymity. What seems unfathomable is that, even though both men have pleaded guilty, we are unable to bring you a definitive breakdown of what happened that morning off the Western Bay coast.

The prosecution is still struggling to wrangle a summary, which they have described as a "50-pages work-in-progress".

The Crown prosecutor says the full analysis of the ship's black box is still to be completed. The contents include multiple languages and complex data, which have to be translated and analysed.

Judge Robert Wolff has demanded the summary of facts be provided to him before sentencing on May 25. The facts must be read in open court. It is vital this community has access to the full details of what went so wrong on October 5, 2011.