The choice of the former spy agency boss who approved the illegal spying on Kim Dotcom as head of the Rena inquiry has baffled the MP who pushed for the review.

The man who headed the GCSB when illegal spying on Kim Dotcom was launched has been chosen to head a review into the Rena grounding response.

There have been ravaging storms, rotting cargo and equipment overboard - now marauding pirates are being blamed for hampering the salvage of the Rena.

A new inquiry into the official response to the Rena disaster will be announced this week to coincide with the first anniversary, the Herald understands.

Oil is still being found at Papamoa Beach a year after the container ship Rena ran aground off the coastline and caused a major spill.

The disgraced captain of the Rena has apologised publicly to New Zealanders for the first time for causing this country's worst environmental maritime disaster.

It's been nearly one year since the Rena wrecked off the coast of Tauranga October 5, 2011. Photographer Alan Gibson shares some of the photos he's taken of the ship and the effect it has had on the environment in the region since then.

Investigations are underway after an Auckland ferry's mayday call during an evening commuter run, with 60 people on board.

Twenty people have received ACC payouts for injuries by sharks so far this year - a drop in the ocean compared to other animal-related injury claims.

It is proving to be an "exceptionally bad" year for the south, as tragedy after tragedy occurs on the water.

Search teams will be back out this morning looking for a fishing vessel which is missing off the coast of Fiordland.

A Transport Accident Investigation Commission investigator will tomorrow begin examining a Talley's fishing boat that caught fire off the Canterbury coast today.

A fishing boat was evacuated today after it caught fire off the Canterbury coast. Video courtesy Royal New Zealand Air Force

All of the crew of a Talley's fishing vessel on fire off the coast of Canterbury have now abandoned ship, as the blaze has spread throughout the vessel.