Tauranga beaches appear to have recovered with no recent signs of tar spots two years on since the Rena's oil slick made landfall and containers washed up.
But what's brewing below the surface and the long-term effects of the grounding are subjects of research and monitoring, and next month a series of scientific environmental impact reports are expected to be made public.
Speaking from Wisconsin, University of Waikato Professor Chris Battershill said a range of impact research projects had been conducted during the past 20 months.
The Tauranga-based professor said once peer reviewed, the reports would be released to the Environment Ministry, Bay of Plenty Regional Council, and other key stakeholders, including iwi, before being released to the public.
Research showed local beaches and most of the off-shore islands from Waihi to the Bay of Plenty's east cape had recovered "extremely well" because of the massive clean-up efforts .