Maori Party MP Te Ururoa Flavell wants authorities to work more closely with iwi in working forward with Rena issues.

The Waiariki MP says the Transport Accident Investigation Commission's interim report into the containership's grounding on Astrlobe reef, leaves several unanswered questions for the tangata whenua of Motiti, Matakana, Maketu, Tauranga Moana and Papamoa, Te Whakatohea, Ngati Awa and Te Whanau a Apanui.

Rena as seen in the morning over flight on March 8. Photo: LOC.

He wants a broader inquiry into coastal cargo shipping, something he has called for in the past.

'There are some important recommendations from the recent report into the Ministerial Inquiry into the use and operation of foreign charter vessels fishing in New Zealand waters which are also relevant for coastal cargo shipping,” says Te Ururoa.

'But what is still outstanding, is any consideration of how best to increase our capacity to both prevent and respond to incidents which have the potential of incurring horrendous environmental and economic consequences, such as we saw with Rena.”

The interim report finds human error and bridge culture issues contributed to the containership Rena to striking the Astrolabe Reef in clear weather in the early hours of October 5, 2011.

The interim report into the investigation was released last week and is available online at www.taic.org.nz

It shows navigation errors were not picked up and marks were added to charts after the grounding.

The report sets out the facts and circumstances as established at this point.

The interim report does not contain any analysis of the facts or make any findings or recommendations.