Rena owners argue for the wreck to stay

The owners of the ship that grounded at Astrolabe Reef just over five years ago have released a statement arguing for the Rena wreck to remain where it is.

The comments come as an Environment Court hearing begins today to hear the views of groups that have appealed the decision for the wreck to remain on the reef, located 12 nautical miles from Tauranga and about 4 nautical miles north of Motiti Island.

Motiti Island residents (Ngai Te Hapu) and Papamoa hapu Nga Potiki are among those appealing. Te Runanga O Ngati Whakaue ki Maketu and Te Arawa Takutai Moana Kaumatua Forum have joined Nga Potiki's appeal.

Three months after the Rena's 2011 grounding, the container ship Rena sits in two pieces on Astrolabe Reef off the coast of Tauranga. Photo/file

In a written statement, Captain John Owen of The Swedish Club said on behalf of Rena's owners and insurers it was time to reach a conclusion to the substantial effort involving many parties to reach an outcome to the grounding of the MV Rena.

"We firmly believe that the 2016 decision by a panel of Independent Commissioners to grant resource consents with a robust framework of conditions over a 20 year (25 years from the grounding) period provides the most certain outcome for the community," he said.

"The owner's representative, Mr Konstantinos Zacharatos, and I wish to acknowledge and thank the many people throughout the community that over the years have engaged in our efforts and provided valuable feedback, which helped form the consent granted by the Commissioners."