Waihi Beach is closed following the washing ashore there of four containers and debris – including hundreds of bags of milk powder.

Police closed Waihi Beach at 9.15am following reports the occupants of a vehicle were taking bags of milk powder before driving off.

The milk powder bags were contents of one of the 200-300 containers to have fallen into the sea from the wrecked Rena, which broke in two during a storm on Saturday night.

'This morning we have had four containers washed ashore and have several more a short distance off the coast, that are likely to also come in as the day progresses,” says Police Senior Sergeant Dave Litton.

'For that reason and because we don't know the contents of the containers, we are urging members of the public to stay away from the beach.

'The expert advice we have received is for people not to approach items washed ashore for health reasons and we appeal to those people who have taken objects to return them to the beach where they can be managed by decontamination crews.”

Rena, broken in two on the Astrolabe Reef. Photo (Jan 8): Maritime New Zealand.

Contracted container salvor, Braemar Howells, is rounding up containers pushed overboard from the wreck and as of mid-morning has tagged 21 with buoys.

Most of the containers to fall into the sea are believed to have sunk almost immediately, but an aerial observation flight today suggests 40 are floating in Tauranga Harbour.

They were all observed north of the harbour entrance.

Flotsam is proving hazardous for boaties around Tauranga Harbour. Photo: SunLive.

Braemar Howells spokesman Grant Dyson says a huge effort is underway to track containers and mark them or take them in tow.

'We have mobilised all vessels that we could from first light, and that includes fast response craft, a barge with a crane, and tugs.

'They are well in action along of course with security and staff to cordon off those containers on the beach.

'The key focus today is to keep any further containers off the beaches if at all possible.”

Maritime New Zealand confirms there are another seven containers known within a mile of Waihi Beach shore and Braemar is using tugs to tow them offshore.

Another seven containers are known to be within a mile of the shore and container recovery company Braemar Howells is using tugs to tow them offshore.

Teams at Waihi Beach are working to secure and start removing the debris, with another investigating unconfirmed reports of a container ashore just inside the Bowentown entrance.

A further report of a container ashore at Papamoa Beach this morning was investigated and found to be false.

Milk powder bags washed ashore at Waihi Beach this morning. Photo: Taylor Bethune.

MNZ national on scene commander Alex van Wijngaarden says two vessels are prepared for on-water oil recovery within the harbour if sea conditions allow.

'So far there is no indication of a significant release of oil from the Rena, although a sheen of oil is still visible off the vessel.”

The oiled wildlife response manager Kerri Morgan says teams recovered six little blue penguins overnight and this morning, but only three were found to be oiled and are now being rehydrated and rehabilitated.

Penguins found near Mauao on Sunday evening. Photo: Paul Griffiths.

Salvors have not yet been able to land on the stern section of the Rena to assess its state, although this morning's aerial observation showed no significant change in its position on the Astrolabe Reef.

MNZ salvage advisor Jon Walker says internal flooding now means the stern section of Rena will not float if it comes off the reef.

The bow section of the vessel is still wedged firmly in its original position, but is suffering internal damage from wave action now that it is fully exposed to the sea.

Seen containers, debris or oiled wildlife wash ashore? Phone 0800 SUNLIVE with your news tip.
email photos to newsroom@thesun.co.nz

Video below supplied by Taylor Bethune, 12. He watched on in amazement as the container turned in the waves.

Contact Numbers

Oiled wildlife, container and debris sightings: 0800 333 771

Pxt and email photos or reports of containers to rena@braemarhowells.com or 027 897 4259

Oil spill sightings: 0800 645 774

Public health queries: 0800 611 116

Iwi liaison 0800 AWHI ME / 0800 294 463