Tar spill ends up on Auckland beaches

Oily black liquid bitumen that spilled into Auckland's harbour is being washed up on beaches as far away as the North Shore.

The liquid bitumen, the oily black tar used in road sealing, spilled when a container holding around 32 tonnes of bitumen hit another container while being unloaded at Fergusson Wharf.

Harbourmaster James McPetrie said about 3.5 tonnes of bitumen spilled over the ship's deck into the water, turning into solidified "blobs" which were removed manually.

Around 5 per cent probably wouldn't be recovered, he said.

A "little bit" had been washed up at Takapuna Beach and Okahu Bay.

The Maritime Safety Authority and Auckland Regional Council were considering whether charges would be laid over the spill.