The Rena captain and second officer have apologised to local Maori and residents for the damage created to the coastal environment from the Rena grounding at Astrolabe Reef on October 5, 2011.

The men appeared before residents on Motiti Island and at Takawhakatiki Marae in Welcome Bay, where marae chairman Colin Reeder says there is no hard feelings.

'It was very emotional and people expressed their sympathy for the captain and the second mate for what they had gone through,” says Colin.

'The captain and second mate reciprocated by apologising profusely.”

The approach is part of a restorative justice process to the Moana a Toi, a leader's forum comprising coastal iwi in the Bay of Plenty, which Colin also chairs.

Colin says the community do not blame them and are not there to judge them.

'Part of the traditions of Maori along the coastline and Maori generally is to forgive, to help in the healing process and for everybody to move on.

'What didn't go down very well was when they heard the families of the captain and the second mate were refused entry over Christmas. People thought that was unfair.

'They apologised for what happened. It was a very heartfelt apology on behalf of both men.

'I think what knocked them around was the extent of the damage up and down the coast and the huge sacrifices people have made.

'We then shared a meal with each other and that was the end of the experience, and it was a very emotional experience for everybody.”

The two are charged under the Maritime Transport Act with operating a vessel in a manner likely to cause danger, under the Resource Management Act for discharging a contaminant and on three charges under the Crimes Act for altering ship documents.

The Rena's captain pleaded guilty on all charges on February 29.

The second mate, who was the Rena's navigation officer, pleaded guilty to Maritime Transport Act charge and to three Crimes Act charges. He is due to enter a plea on a Resource Management Act charge on May 22.

The Crimes Act charges relate to altering the ship's documents after the grounding, and carry a possible sentence of seven year's jail.

The men, who currently have name suppression are on bail, due to reappear for sentencing on May 25.

The RMA charge has a maximum penalty of a $300,000 fine and/or two years jail and $10,000 for every day the offending continues.

The Maritime Transport Act carries a maximum penalty of $10,000 or a maximum term of imprisonment of 12 months.