Sunday is a good day for a relaxed stroll on the beach, but at Mount Maunganui today, people are walking with purpose.

A hikoi is planned to mark the grounding of the Rena container ship five years ago, and its impact on the environment.

The Rena smashed into Astrolabe Reef, causing an oil spill onto the Bay's beaches.

The march starts at the Omanu Surf Club at 12:30pm, taking in the beach as far as the penguin statue near Leisure Island.

Organiser Terry Leaming said people taking part in the march want to make sure nothing like it happens again.