The country's biggest Maori business network says the oil leak from the grounded cargo ship in the Bay of Plenty shows the country isn't prepared for such an incident.
The Federation of Maori Authorities says it expected that the government and its agencies would be ready when the Rena struck the Astrolabe reef off the coast of Tauranga on 5 October.
Federation chairperson Tracey Houpapa says members are concerned about the impact of the oil leak and its effect on their livelihoods - such as orchards, fisheries and tourism.
The industries don't just fear an economic hit, she says, but also the threat to everyone's whakapapa.
Ms Houpapa says she and local iwi have had good communication with government ministers, and tangata whenua are always offering to lend a hand with the clean up.
