Ngai Tamarawaho hapu of Ngati Ranginui is distancing itself from the recently announced decision by the iwi to withdraw its opposition to the removing of the wreck of the Rena from the Astrolabe Reef.

Huria marae based Nga Tamarawaho is a hapu of the Ngati Ranginui iwi.

Ngai Tamarawaho kaumatua Peri Koho.

Nga Tamarawaho Kamatua Peri Kohu says they continue to support the call by Motiti Island Ngai Te Hapu and Patuwai hapu for the wreck to be removed entirely.

'That view is articulated in the claim that we made in the Court three years ago,” says Peri. 'To support the claim by Ngai Te Hapu and Patuwai to have the Rena removed from the reef.

'That's based on genealogy we have with them.”

Ngati Ranginui doesn't have those links, but Ngai Tamarawaho does, says Peri.

'We will be at the environmental hearings in September in support of our statements.”

Ngai Tamarawaho hasn't been invited to the restoration and mitigation meetings between Ngati Ranginui representatives and the Rena owners and agents. They were told that was based on the requirement that the negotiations needed to be confidential, says Peri.

He understands the agreement involves a financial settlement, but there's nothing yet on how that is to be used.

Ngati Ranginui Iwi announced this week that it is withdrawing its opposition to the resource consent application to leave the wreck on the reef. Calls to the iwi to learn if there was a mitigation or restoration portion included, have not been answered.

The restoration and mitigation offers are contained in the resource consent application. Because it is a part of the resource consent application process, the details of the various iwi and hapu responses to the restoration and mitigation offers, will eventually become part of the public court record.