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The clean-up of a diesel spill from a wrecked fishing boat on the Fair Way Reef, near the Mangonui Harbour in the Far North, has been stopped by bad weather.
The slick stretches 2kms from the fishing boat Seawyf and is 30m wide at it's widest point.
Northland Regional Council Harbourmaster Ian Niblock said the boat is stuck on the reef.
The crew were airlifted to safety by helicopter in the early hours of this morning.
He said an estimated 2000 litres of diesel and some hydraulic and lubricating oil remains on board the Seawyf.
"We are concerned that this diesel is drifting towards the Karikari Peninsula, however, at this stage it is breaking up naturally about 8km or so away from the peninsula itself. Unfortunately, while the weather remains this rough all we can do is monitor the situation because it's just not safe enough to do much else," Mr Niblock said.
He said an Auckland-based salvage team appointed by the boat's owner is expected to reach the area later today and the situation will continue to be assessed.
Mr Niblock said with the 25 knot south-westerly winds, the safety of the response team and the salvage company is paramount.
