Many Bay of Plenty residents have defied an official request not to go on beaches and have started to clean up toxic oil washed ashore from a stricken container ship.
The Rena has been wedged on the Astrolabe reef, about 12 nautical miles off Tauranga, since last Wednesday.
[image:3322:half:right]Large globules of oil started coming ashore on Monday and more is expected after another big leak on Tuesday. By late morning, many local residents were on beaches with spades and plastic bags.
But Maritime New Zealand says the public should not be tempted to clean up the oil and should leave it to the experts. It warns people are putting themselves at risk by touching the toxic oil and could end up spreading it further, causing more damage to the environment.
Oil recovery teams from Maritime New Zealand began work about midday on Tuesday, concentrating efforts on the Tay St beach and Omanu beach.
The authority says it has more than 100 staff cleaning oil from beaches and any volunteers should contact them if they want to help.
But locals said they just could not sit around and do nothing - even if it meant returning to find the next high tide had brought in more oil.
Oil washes up on Motiti Island
A resident of Motiti Island, about 7km from the Rena, says she expects even more oil to wash up on the shore at high tide on Wednesday morning.
Lynda Wikeepa says the island's beaches used to be pristine and seeing thick black globules of oil washing up is devastating.
Ms Wikeepa says the wind and rain have picked up on Tuesday and the ship is being hammered by high seas.
She says everyone knew this would happen and she does not know why authorities did not act sooner when the weather was calm.
More dead birds found
Residents have also been warned to keep pets off the beaches and report any wildlife affected by oil to authorities rather than trying to catch them.
To date, Maritime New Zealand says, 53 dead birds have been recovered, including about 30 on Tuesday.
Brent Stephenson, who is in charge of the wildlife operation,says about a dozen little blue penguins and shags have been rescued and he expects many more will be brought in.
Dr Stephenson says the rescue facility has been extended to take up to 500 birds.
Meanwhile, conservationist Julian Fitter wants another boom put across the Maketu estuary to safeguard a colony of New Zealand dotterel.
Mr Fitter says oil has not yet arrived at the estuary, where one boom has already been installed as a precaution.