The captain and navigational officer of the container ship Rena have been deported to their home country, the Philippines.
The container ship grounded on Astrolabe Reef off, Tauranga, on 5 October last year, triggering New Zealand's worst maritime environmental disaster to date.
Captain Mauro Balomaga and Leonil Relon were sentenced to seven months' jail for attempting to pervert the course of justice and operating a vessel in a way that caused unnecessary danger or risk.
Balomaga and Relon were released from Waikeria Prison on Wednesday after serving half their sentence as required by the Parole Act.
Immigration New Zealand says the men left the country on Thursday morning.
Balomaga's lawyer Paul Mabey, QC, says his client and Relon have retained their jobs with their employer and hope to continue in the maritime business in some way.
Tauranga mayor Stuart Crosby says it is fine by him if the pair want to visit friends they have made while in New Zealand.
"They made an error, they served some time in jail. It's not the Kiwi way, I think, to hold a grudge like that. They have been well looked after by the Filipino community and made a number of friends, so hopefully we can put this whole incident behind us."
However, Mr Crosby says neither man should ever be in control of a vessel again because of their poor seamanship.
