Maritime New Zealand is praising the Bay of Plenty community for its support in the clean-up.

This is the closest look the public has had yet of the stricken container ship Rena.

Katie Cox captured exclusive close-up images of the grounded Rena off the coast of Tauranga.

Two people are seriously injured in Tauranga Hospital after being thrown out of the back of a car.

A 45-year-old man is in intensive care after a 300kg block of concrete fell on him at a Bay of Plenty trucking firm.

No oil will be pumped off Rena today, and salvors say the "grinding and groaning" ship is more unstable than originally thought.

A 45 year old male has received life threatening injuries after a 300kg concrete block fell on him on Omokoroa Road, Tauranga.

Serious questions need to be asked about events which led to this week's misery and damage.

About 500 oil spill responders have been on Bay of Plenty beaches today, removing patches of gluggy spillage from the stranded and breaking Rena, as the ships owner makes an apology to the nation,

The Rena is holding together well enough for salvage crews to get on board, but the entire front section of the stricken ship is flooded and the use of dispersant has failed.

The environmental and marine impact of the Rena disaster has proved devastating, and is still unfolding. These graphic images help tell the story.

Face masks could be issued to those living near beach areas affected by oil leaking from the MV Rena, which has lost up to 70 containers overnight. The ship's captain has been charged over the incident and granted bail after a court appearance..

View photos our readers have sent us of the oil spill disaster on the Tauranga coastline.