Winston Peters wants every scrap of Rena gone

New Zealand First Leader Rt Hon Winston Peters is standing-up against Rena owners and insurers, saying he wants to see the entire wreck removed after they made claims to abandon it.

Owners of the Rena confirmed last week that they will seek resource consent to leave the wreck's remains where they are off the coast of the Bay of Plenty.

However Mr Peters has spoken out today in Tauranga against the reports.

"We want every last scrap of the Rena, innards and all, off our coast," he said, " The Rena was one of our worst shipping disasters and threatened to permanently damage our coastline and affect all the marine species that thrive in our waters."

Mr Peters continued on to ask whether the owners had any respect for the New Zealand environment, and said New Zealanders must not send the message we are pushovers.

"They suggest that removing more of the wreck is too challenging and too technical, this looks like they are taking the easy option and dumping the remains on New Zealand."

Since grounding itself on Astrolabe Reef on October 5, 2011, the debris and oil have been subject of a major clean-up project along local beaches.

"We have one of the most pristine coastlines in the world. We all want to keep it that way as was evidenced by the hundreds of people who voluntarily worked to clear the mess that spewed on to our shores and helped save wildlife after the disaster," said Mr Peters.

"This is a half-hearted approach and not what was expected of them."