The number of containers which have now fallen off MV Rena into the waters has gone up from an estimate of 70 on Wednesday night, Maritime NZ officials said this morning.

At least one container contains dangerous goods, while other containers hold items such as milk powder, dairy products, timber and pelts, reports said.

At least four containers, with some holding beef patties and freeze dried coffee have been washed up to Maunganui Beach.

Meanwhile, a Kiwi who has recently moved to Brisbane is in extreme distress as everything he owns is aboard the stricken ship.

In a bid for a less stressful life, Gene Rhodes, a contractor, left Christchurch to escape the quakes three weeks ago. With a better life in mind, he packed up his life as well as his partner's and daughter's into a shipping container that would later come on board MV Rena.

Rhodes' container was scheduled to arrive at his Brisbane home within a week, but it is stuck on the Rena, which now has a huge crack and expected to split in two, with his container in serious danger of sinking with the vessel.

"My heart's in my stomach at the moment," he said. "It's all our stuff. Everything is in that container. My life's on that container."

Rhodes loaded furniture, contracting tools, and personal possessions including a motorcycle in his container.

NZherald.co.nz reporter Hayden Donnell reports more cargo can be seen floating less than 1km out to sea, meaning more will be landing Thursday.

MV Rena was shipping 1386 containers when it hit the Astrolabe Reef in New Zealand's Bay of Plenty Wednesday last week.

Transport Minister Steven Joyce said a specialist company had been engaged to remove the containers and Mount Maunganui beach will be closed at midday to assess the contents of the containers.

A survey vessel has been to the Astrolabe Reef to check the reef's topography and a salvage inspection team has also been sent out to check on the state of the Rena, Joyce told NZ Herald.

He added it was going to be a very big day for crews working on the Rena.