Rakahanga stranded are missing out on work, being with family and study after their ride - Tiao Shipping’s MV Grinna II - ran aground on Manihiki’s reef.

Among the four people stuck on Rakahanga is Margaret Ulfsby, who said the group was waiting for the barge which is scheduled to arrive in early May or a plane if it came earlier.

“It’s just really hard at the moment aye, thinking about our loved ones at home and not being able to make it to my daughter having her baby and my husband has missed out on his work,” Ulfsby said.

“We thought there would have at least been another solution once the Grinna had been damaged, they would have sent someone else, like another boat out to pick us up, but nope that didn't happen.”

Ulfsby’s husband, Alf Ulfsby is a machine welder and is concerned about losing his job in Auckland if he does not return soon.

“He told them (employer) he was only going to be here two months at the most but it is probably more than two months, which is why he was a bit worried,” Ulfsby said.

She said her cousin who also came over on the barge was worried about losing his job.

“His boss was not very understanding and he was a bit worried about his job too.”

Taana Taina is a nursing student and a construction worker in Auckland and is also needing to return.

“(I’m) missing out on a lot really, I’ve missed out on so much of my school work and it’s quite a big disappointment for me.

“I was really thinking the government would help out our situation, we were not expecting to be here this long.”

The group originally went to Rakahanga to bury loved ones who were also transported on the Grinna. However, after they were dropped off the ship ran aground in Manihiki and was unable to take them back to Rarotonga.

Ulfsby said financially staying on Rakahanga was a burden and needed to ask loved ones for money.

“Although there is fish and everything here you need your basic essentials, like toilet paper and other stuff, soap powder and what have you.”

She said they asked the barge to come earlier, however they told the group they were unable to because they had scheduled to pick up passengers from Nassau and Pukapuka.

Ulfsby said the group originally planned to travel to Rakahanga on the barge but decided to travel on the Grinna instead because it was delayed in leaving.