A Government order issued to Rena's owners within hours of its grounding to remove the vessel remains but Rena's owner and insurer are to seek resource consent to leave it where it is.
Most Bay residents clearly remember the scale of the fallout that followed when the 37,000-tonne cargo ship hit the reef near Motiti Island. The Bay's coastline was soiled by 350 tonnes of heavy fuel oil, debris and more than 1000 dead birds, in what will be labelled New Zealand's worst maritime environmental disaster.
Several years on and oil spots and small plastic beads were still washing up along the Bay of Plenty coastline.
The wreck needs to be removed so we can draw an end to its awful legacy.
Regardless of his motivations, Mr Cunliffe has at least put Rena's owners on notice. It also gives some hope to those opposing the plan who, with far fewer resources, are facing a David and Goliath battle.
It's not surprising that Rena's owners should be looking to leave the wreck, removing it is a complex, demanding, dangerous and extremely costly job.
But it remains the right thing to do.
