The Rena disaster cost New Zealand government departments $46.8million, according to figures released from the Treasury, well past the $27.6million the ships owners and insurers have paid in compensation.

The breakdown of costs to government agencies, published by the Treasury on Wednesday, shows Maritime New Zealand paid the most from the MV Rena's grounding and subsequent oil spill.

The Rena on Astrolabe Reef.

Maritime NZ spent $36.8million dealing with the ship's grounding on Astrolabe Reef on October 5, 2011 and subsequent aftermath.

In Tauranga MNZ leased the former Foodtown supermarket on Cameron Road, which became the headquarters of the response effort. At its height it employed about 600 to 800 people.

The second highest cost of $7.2 million was met by the New Zealand Defence Force, which deployed hundreds of army personnel to help clean the beaches as well as four navy vessels and a Seasprite helicopter.

Other big spenders were the Department of Conservation, $907,000; the Ministry for the Environment, $803,000; and $490,000 from the Ministry of Transport.

Treasury figures show the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet spent $3000 on the Rena, and the State Services Commission $1000.

Following the Rena grounding MNZ proposed to raise an oil pollution levy on operators to increase the fund's annual base revenue from just over $3million to $4.5million, while a further $3million would be drawn over three years to buy more response equipment and make improvements.

The levy-funded Oil Pollution Fund held about $12 million a decade ago, but had fallen to $4million before the Rena spilled 350 tonnes of heavy fuel oil into the ocean.

Rena salvage operations have cost the owners and insurers more than $275million so far.

Even if the Rena owners and insurers pay the further $10.6million they've promised if the remainder of the wreck is allowed to remain on the reef, the taxpayer will still be $8.8 million out of pocket.

The costs

Maritime New Zealand $36,834,000

New Zealand Defence Force $7,296,000

Department of Conservation $907,000

Ministry for the Environment $803,000

Ministry of Transport $490,000

Ministry of Social Development $192,000

Ministry for Primary Industries $128,000

New Zealand Police $110,000

New Zealand Transport Agency $31,000

New Zealand Customs Service $27,000

Te Puni Kokiri $22,000

Environmental Protection Authority $18,000

Inland Revenue Department $12,000

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade $9000

Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment $8000

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet $3000

State Services Commission $1000

TOTAL $46,891,000