The decision from deliberation on the Rena resource consent application is now expected to be released in late February 2016, as opposed to December 16.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council strategic communications manager Sue-Ellen Craig announced the change of date today.

The Rena decision now expected February 26. Photos: File.

The reason cited is the workload on the hearing commissioners and the fact that one of them has been ill in hospital for two weeks, says Sue-Ellen.

'There is a huge amount of information they have to take on board and one of the commissioners has had to take a few weeks off for personal health reasons,” she explains.

'They want to make sure they have the time to do it properly. We agreed to the extension and the applicant did as well.”

The Rena Hearing adjourned on October 9 following the presentation of evidence over 20 hearing days involving witnesses, counsel and submitters.

The owners and insurers of the former cargo ship Rena seek resource consent to leave the remnant of the wreck on Astrolabe/Otaiti reef, where the Rena ran aground on October 4, 2011.

The Regional Council delegated and appointed the decision-making to an expert panel of Hearing Commissioners, made up of Judge Gordon Whiting, environmental scientist Dr Shane Kelly, cultural commissioner Rauru Kirikiri and marine engineer John Lumsden.

The commissioners are being asked to decide between those who oppose the application in its entirety and want the entire wreck removed from the reef, and the varying support in favour of the application.

A set of draft consent conditions returned to the commissioners after the hearings closed is riddled with additions, alterations and disagreements – an indication that the parties are still some distance from a consensus view.