Braemar Howells is investigating reports that wreckage from the former container ship Rena on Astrolabe Reef has reached Great Barrier Island in the Hauraki Gulf.

Maritime New Zealand reports flights are being undertaken to assess the situation as soon as weather conditions are favourable.

Wreckage from the Rena has reached Great Barrier Island.

Great Barrier Island.

Braemar NZ Operations Manager Neil Lloyd says if wreckage is spotted a fast response craft and teams will be deployed.

Clean-up operations on the Coromandel are continuing with new methods for collecting plastic beads finalised and ready for action next week, when weather is expected to improve.

This week the Braemar recovery teams recovered the wreckage of more than 30 containers – including container sections and some cargo. A further 40 containers are in pinpointed locations yet to be recovered and sonar surveys are continuing over a wide area.

Debris on Matakana Island has been collected and stockpiled ready to be heli-lifted for disposal. The air lift is scheduled for next week, along with further efforts to clean up plastic beads from island beaches.

The total number of containers received ashore from Rena is now 762, 661 from the decks and holds of the wreck and another 101 retrieved from the extended area around the reef, and the shoreline.

Divers this week cut into parts of the now submerged stern section to gain access to more containers. Dive operations to remove smaller pieces of debris and cargo have also been undertaken.

Moderate to strong winds and swells of up to 2-3m hit the Astrolabe Reef on Friday with weather conditions forecast to ease over the weekend.

Marine Traffic's live ships map shows the barge Smit Borneo and tug Singapore onsite with other crafts in the vicinity of Motiti Island.

Small amounts of residual oil are still being found in some areas between Mount Maunganui and Papamoa. These have not required clean-up operations but the sites will continue to be monitored by survey teams.

Members of the public are encouraged to report any sightings of oil to 0800 OIL SPILL (0800 645 774).