Volunteers involved in the beach clean-up operations caused by the Rena disaster are invited, along with their families, to a fun afternoon at Mount Maunganui Main Beach this afternoon.

The event is supported by Maritime New Zealand, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council, Tourism Bay of Plenty and Tauranga City Council.

Volunteers clean rocks at Kulim Park. Photo: MNZ.

Organisers say the event is still going ahead despite the rain.

MNZ national on scene commander Mick Courtnell says the event is an opportunity to acknowledge the effort from volunteers.

'We just couldn't have done it without them; these volunteers got stuck in and did some of the toughest, dirtiest work,” says Mick.

'The response from the local community was overwhelming.

'We saw many people come back time and again, despite the fact the work involving painstaking sifting of oily sand on hands and knees – and then returning the next day to do it all again.”

Bay of Plenty Regional Council senior land management officer and Rena beach volunteer coordinator Pim de Monchy says the response to volunteer requests was phenomenal and it is a great example of how much the public cherishes the Bay of Plenty coastline.

'Everyone just wanted to help get our beaches right again, we had 90 people at our first beach clean at Omanu and volunteers were registering on the website at an average of four per minute over the first few days.”

The whole Bay of Plenty community from Waihi Beach to Whangaparaoa Beach have been involved with clean ups as well as many people travelling from out of town to help.

Mick says that while clean-up efforts continued, it was unlikely another large scale volunteer effort would be required, so it was a good time to thank all those who took part.

'We also want to acknowledge all those people who may not have been on the beach collecting oil, but in their own way they have supported the efforts.

'From catering to childcare, we encourage everyone to come down who has played their part in making the volunteer beach clean-up a success.”

There will be live bands and a sausage sizzle with people encouraged to bring a picnic too.

When: Sunday, 4-7pm

Where: Mount Maunganui Main Beach, opposite Commons Avenue