News for today: 150 containers out of a possible 300 went into the sea over the weekend: to date 45 have been identified and will eventually be recovered. So far 12 of them have washed ashore. A picture in the Dominion Post today shows Wahi Beach covered with hundreds of bags of milk powder and a couple of containers. Some looting has been reported, but police are on scene. Beach cleanup crews are moving in once cargo is identified.

The Oiled Wildlife Team has been checking islands and beaches in the area for oiled sea-birds, but oil spillage doesn't seem to be a very serious problem as yet.

So boaties in the NZ East Coast area: keep a very good look-out, there are still about 125 containers in the water, some of which will have sunk, but some may be bobbing about and may be for years to come...