The New Zealand Government is considering financial help to businesses hit by the Rena disaster, but Prime Minister John Key isn’t committing to any help just yet.
Oil has spilled into the ocean and onto beaches in the Bay of Plenty since the ship ran aground nine days ago, prompting fears businesses will suffer.
Locals have been particularly worried about the impact on commercial fishing and on the tourism attracted every summer by the normally pristine beaches.
Mr Key said salvors were hopeful platforms on the side of the ship would allow them to extract the remaining oil on board. He said it would take at least 14 hours to get the oil off the ship and for safety reasons they can only work during daylight hours.
Mr Key said the stern of the ship was resting on the reef, which was helping keep it together for the moment.