Salvage on the remaining part of the Rena wreck is progressing well despite operations being suspended on Thursday due to heavy swells at Astrolabe Reef.

Maritime New Zealand reports salvors are working to remove containers from both the seabed and wreck site during the week.

Containers are being cut apart by the salvors to access and remove the goods inside. Photo: Maritime New Zealand.

Senior media advisor Sophie Hazlehurst says dive operations are continuing to recover bags of cargo and pieces of containers from submerged holds in the stern section.

Moderate variable winds of up to 30 knots are forecast at Astrolabe Reef for the weekend throughout the weekend through to Tuesday next week.

Sophie says there are currently swells of around 1.5 to 2m around the reef.

A total of 772 containers have now been recovered from Rena and brought to the port for processing.

The Braemar recovery team reports six container loads of aluminum ingots have been recovered and landed ashore.

Braemar NZ Operations Manager Neil Lloyd says it's pleasing to see this cargo successfully recovered by divers from the sunken hold five in the bow section of the wreck, and by helicopter lifts from above the waterline.

Efforts are continuing to locate and bring ashore more of the ingots.

Beach cleanups are also continuing on Matakana Island and Coromandel beaches where plastic bead recovery is continuing.

Sophie says a survey on Motiti Island has identified debris including plastic rope, timber and food packets which has washed ashore on rocky outcrops on the north and south coasts.