Taxpayers could end up being liable if a ship laden with 40,000 barrels of crude oil – which is sitting just 50 kilometres off the Taranaki coast – is involved in a spill.

The FPSO Umuroa is a floating production station attached to the abandoned Tui Oil Field.

It has been ordered to stay put over winter against its owner’s wishes – who have argued doing so poses a safety risk.

Our Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin has more.