Bay of Plenty Regional Council staff have completed their clean-up of the shoreline at Matapihi, following yesterday's oil spill.

Bay of Plenty Regional Council Regulatory Compliance Manager Stephen Mellor says staff worked quickly last night with the hour and a half of light they had to pick up or move as much of the oily debris on the shoreline as they could, and were out again this morning to complete the job.

'In all we've collected 25 bags of oily organic debris which we'll dispose of appropriately. The team were also out on the water at first light and found no further spread overnight.”

The spill, which was reported to the Regional Council's Pollution Prevention Hotline at around 4pm, was situated on the shoreline at Matapihi, south of the rail bridge, covering an area of shoreline of less than 50m in length.

A slight sheen was also visible on the water.

'Our focus now shifts to an investigation phase and we are looking at where the oil may have come from.

'The most important thing for us at this stage though is if anyone notices any oil at any other place in the harbour, to let us know as soon as possible by ringing the pollution hotline on 0800 884 883 so we can get staff out to the site.”