A small amount of oil from the Rena oil wreck on the Astrolabe Reef has found its way into the upper harbour through the Bowentown entrance.

Harbour warden Noel Haszard saw the slick in the upper harbour channels earlier this week.

Noel Haszard patrols the upper harbour this week.

'There is oil there, small quantities of it, but there is oil there none the less,” says Noel.

'It's floating with the flotsam, the timber and bits and pieces.

'There's not a great deal, but you wouldn't want to pick it up.

'It's pretty much confined to the main channels; I'm not aware of any on the inner harbour beaches – there's plenty on the outside, though.”