It's nearly five years to the day when the Rena struck the Astrolabe Reef, causing what would be the New Zealand's greatest environmental disaster to date.

In remembrance of the ship's grounding on October 5, 2011, and the devastating impact it had on the local environment and wildlife, a hikoi will take place along Mount Maunganui Beach this Sunday.

A hikoi to remember the grounding of the MV Rena will take place along Mount Maunganui Beach on Sunday, starting at 12.30pm.

Starting at the Omanu Surf Club, participants will march down the beach to the penguin statue near Moturiki (Leisure) Island, says hikoi organiser Terry Leaming, aka Hori Bop.

'October 5 marks five years since the Rena spilled her guts all over our pristine beaches and we need to make sure nothing like this ever happens again.

'We will march against the prospect of offshore oil drilling, against ridiculous concepts like wadeable water standards and against chasing profit instead of protecting our environment.”

SunLive reporter Phillipa Yalden handling the oil on the boundry of the 1km exclusion zone from stranded container ship Rena two days after it ran aground.

With the local body elections just around the corner, Terry says now is a good time for people to think a little wider than local-body issues.

Ultimately, he wants people to come together to crusade for something that really matters – 'the health of the beautiful waters of Tauranga-Moana, that surround and sustain us all.

'I'm calling it the Rena-issance.”

The Remember the Rena Hikoi from the Omanu Surf Club to the penguin statue at Moturiki (Leisure) Island takes place on Sunday, October 2, starting at 12.30pm.