Editorial: We want all details of Rena's grounding

More than four months ago the Rena came to rest on Astrolabe Reef, besmirching the ocean with its cargo of chemicals, animal pelts, meat patties and precious family mementos.

Those families might take some comfort in knowing two people have admitted guilt over the grounding of the container ship.

The captain, who we can't name because of continued court suppression orders, has pleaded guilty to six charges: A Maritime Transport Act charge of causing unnecessary danger or risk to persons or property; a Resource Management Act charge relating to the discharge of harmful substances or contaminants into the coastal marine area; and four charges under the Crimes Act of wilfully attempting to pervert the course of justice.

While many will welcome this development, there's still a long way to go before the initial clean-up is complete.

Maritime New Zealand says more than 1000 cubic metres of waste has been recovered so far. It has said there were 1368 containers on board when Rena ran aground on October 5 and 86 containers are believed to have washed overboard on October 11.

The ship eventually broke in two and began to sink into the reef. So far, 561 containers have been removed from the stricken ship and 71 have been collected from the sea or shore.

Workers continue to collect debris along our coastline - everything from fridges to gloves and milk powder.

Time may have dampened the furious response from the community to this catastrophe on our doorstep, but many will take satisfaction in seeing the captain - and his navigation officer who also pleaded guilty to four offences but is yet to plea on a fifth charge - take responsibility.

What's missing is a summary of facts. It seems unfathomable that even though both men have pleaded guilty, we are unable to bring you a definitive breakdown of what happened that morning off the Western Bay coast.

Prosecutors are still struggling to wrangle a summary, describing it as a 50-page work in progress and say full analysis of the ship's black box is still to be completed. The contents include multiple languages and complex data, which have to be translated and analysed.

Judge Robert Wolff has demanded the summary of facts be provided to him before sentencing on May 25.

The facts must be read in open court. It is vital this community has access to the full details of what went so wrong on October 5, 2011.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

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