Maritime NZ is asking recreational sailors not to go into BoP waters for fear of dragging oil into cleaner areas.

Thieves have made off with anchors from a boom protecting an estuary from the Rena oil spill.

The crippled MV Rena could be a blot on the Bay of Plenty coastline well into next year if bad weather doesn't smash it apart and the cost of the clean-up and long salvage operation could stretch to $100 million.

Authorities assisting with wildlife recovery are being inundated with oiled little blue penguins. It is the middle of breeding season for the nocturnal birds who get covered in the thick tar-like oil while crossing rocks to return to their burrows.

Serious questions need to be asked about events which led to this week's misery and damage.

The belongings of a family that moved to Brisbane to escape quake-battered Christchurch were on the stricken ship.

Large fractures in the hull of the stricken cargo ship Rena are getting worse, increasing the chances the ship will break up after aerial footage showed the hull of the vessel grounded on Astrolabe Reef off the coast of Tauranga has cracked open.

Face masks could be issued to those living near beach areas affected by oil leaking from the MV Rena, which has lost up to 70 containers overnight. The ship's captain has been charged over the incident and granted bail after a court appearance..