Bad weather is hampering container removal operations from the cargo ship Rena, grounded on Astrolabe Reef since October 5.

No containers were removed on Sunday due to large swells and winds and no operations are expected to take place today.

The crane barge Smit Borneo lifts six containers off the Rena. Photo: Maritime New Zealand.

The weather forecast is for continuing showers and patchy rain with heavier rain forecast for Wednesday.

Maritime New Zealand spokesperson Sophie Hazelhurst says salvors are still working onboard Rena, installing patches and corridors of the wreck to improve buoyancy.

The 110m long and 30m wide Smit Borneo barge has lifted 28 containers from the ship since it began removal operations on Friday, December 9.

A total of 195 containers have now been lifted off the ship, a further 1087 containers remain on board.

An overflight of the Astrolabe Reef, where Rena remains grounded since October 5, shows a metallic sheen of oil approximately 4.5km long stretching from Rena.

However, MNZ confirms there is no sign of weathered oil off the coast of Omanu.

A beach cleaning team are working around Leisure Island today, where small amounts of oil are reported to be washing up.

They will be working on the patch of beach in next to Shark Alley, every day at high tide.

Further beach clean up crews are working on the north and western sides of Motiti Island, and also at Kulim and Fergusson Parks.

Warm rock washing is continuing around Mauao, but no beach grooming will take place because of the weather.

Almost 4 tonnes of waste was collected from beaches on Friday and Saturday, bringing the total amount of waste collected to 967 tonnes.

Two containers are being processed today at Braemar Howell's plant in Te Maunga and further surveying will be done in Papamoa to see if any containers or debris have come ashore in the last week.