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Bay of Plenty iwi are asking for an exclusion zone surrounding the Rena following the decision by an independent hearing panel to leave the wreck on Otaiti (Astrolabe) Reef today.

The panel has granted a resource consent application made by Rena's owners and insurers to abandon the Rena wreck in situ.

The Rena on Astrolabe Reef: Photos: Darryl Torckler.

The panel's decision will see the remains of the Rena, its equipment and cargo left on the Otaiti Reef it also gives consent to 'discharge” any harmful substances or contaminants from the remains of the Rena, its equipment and cargo that may occur over time as a result of the degradation of the vessel pursuant of Section 15B of the RMA.

Nga Hapu o Motiti has asked the Government to leave the area around the wreck excluded from shipping as it has been since Rena grounded on October 5, 2011.

A report given to SunLive reveals the iwi is requesting a ban on all fishing for at least two years to allow marine biodiversity to continue to recover.

The exclusion zone covers three nautical miles around a point on Otaiti Reef and covers an area of about 97sq km.

It's been reported that Forest and Bird is backing the iwi's call for the exclusion zone.

Submissions on Nga Hapu o Motiti's application for temporary closure under the NZ Fisheries Act close on March 14, 2016.

The decision released by the independent hearing panel is contained within two volumes, with a full copy available here or from the Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

The owner's representative, Konstantinos Zacharatos, says now a decision has been reached it is time to work towards the next step.

'The next steps from here will be to carefully consider the decision and the conditions, in consultation with our New Zealand legal and environmental team, before I return to New Zealand next month,” he says.

'We intend to continue to listen to and work together with iwi, members of the community and local authorities to discuss the decision, including next steps in concluding the incident.

'Finally, to all the volunteers involved during the initial response and those in the extensive salvage and clean-up operation that has not stopped since the accident in October 2011 – thank you for your remarkable efforts,” says Konstantinos.

New Zealand Diving & Salvage is scheduled to complete the final stage of the debris clean-up operation in March, subject to weather and marine conditions.

Once completed, the Bay of Plenty Regional Harbourmaster will review the two nautical mile exclusion zone that has been in place since the grounding.

When the exclusion zone is lifted, an Access Plan will be implemented to encourage safe and responsible public access to the Reef. For more information about the Access Plan, please click here.