Tauranga Moana Iwi Leaders' Group chairman Awanui Black is speaking out in support of tomorrow's rally to ban the Corexit dispersant used during the Rena oil spill.

The rally, organised by local surfer Dominico Zapata, is in protest of the dispersant stored at the Port of Tauranga.

Tauranga Moana Iwi Leaders' Group chairman Awanui Black is 100 per cent behind the rally on Mount Main Beach tomorrow.

It is due to take place from 10.30am on Saturday at Mount Maunganui Main Beach.

Awanui says he was 'jolted into action” after seeing TV One's ‘60 minutes' documentary investigation into the chemical which aired recently.

The documentary revisited the Corexit toxicity reports claiming serious illnesses and deaths of people in the Gulf of Mexico following an oil spill in April 2010.

Awanui claims almost two million gallons of Corexit was used to disperse oil from the disaster.

"The effect on wildlife - marine life including dolphins, sea turtles, bird and fish life were disastrous and on-going.

'Even worse, there is also evidence that Corexit has had a hugely harmful impact on humans who have come into contact with the chemical which apparently increases in toxicity when it mixes with oil.

"The chemical is apparently invisible to the naked eye, but becomes obvious under fluorescent light. It was also easily absorbed into human skin.”

The dispersant Corexit 9500 was used on the heavy fuel oil spilt from the Rena in the days after its grounding on October 5, 2011.

"We don't know of any studies specifically aimed at finding out what its impact has been on people, and the wider environment, in this part of the Bay of Plenty."

Maritime NZ trialled the dispersant Corexit 9500 and a very small amount of Corexit 9527 on heavy fuel oil spilled from the Rena in the earliest days of the response.

At the time MNZ said the Corexit being used on the Rena spillage was widely tested and had very low toxicity. MNZ said usage was stopped a few days after the spillage when found to be ineffectual.

Awanui understands MNZ has large stocks of the dispersant and that there is no protocol in place to ban its use.

Countries such as the UK and Sweden have banned the use of Corexit and in Australia its use is under investigation.

Awanui wants it banned in the Bay of Plenty too.

A total of 3000 litres of Corexit are in storage in Tauranga and Awanui says MNZ needs to take action now to get rid of those stocks.

He says the owners and insurers of the Rena - as well as the BOP Regional Council - need to come to the party to extend the environmental monitoring period of the area around the Rena and along the Western BOP shoreline for at least another four to five years.

"Monitoring of the environment would include monitoring for human health issues.”

Awanui says overseas studies - based on Corexit markers in people involved in oil spill cleanup work - showed contact with the chemical has led to mental health problems and a whole range of illnesses.

Rally organisers will be seeking signatures to a petition calling on the government and MNZ to destroy Corexit stocks and take steps to ban its future use in New Zealand waters.

Awanui, who is also a candidate for the Mauao Ward on the regional council, says he will make action on Corexit issues his number one priority with the council should he be elected.

The protest is due to start at 10.30am on Mount Main Beach on Saturday.