Bad weather is hampering efforts to remove more containers from the stricken container ship Rena.
Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) says it's unlikely any containers will be removed from the ship on Friday, with winds of up to 30 knots and two metre swells forecast.
However, salvors will continue to empty containers on board and remove bags of cargo.
MNZ says the weather is expected to remain unsettled over the weekend, but salvors will make the most of any windows of good weather.
Yesterday eight empty containers from the Rena's bow section were removed by sliding them into the water.
Six of the containers were recovered from the water using a crane, while the remaining two, which have buoys attached, will be retrieved when weather conditions improve.
MNZ says recovery teams have processed 497 containers so far, including 441 that have been lifted off the wreck by salvors and 56 that have been collected at sea or from beaches.
Debris clean-up efforts are continuing at Matakana Island and on the East Cape.
The Rena ran aground on the Astrolabe Reef, off Tauranga, in early October.
The battered wreck split in two earlier this month, with the stern section partly sinking two days later.
AP