The family of injured ferry skipper Bill Elliott has thanked Northlanders for their overwhelming support during the past week

They're inviting locals to send him their best yarns so something to read as he recovers in hospital.

The 77-year-old suffered critical head and spinal surgeries when his ferry collided with a powerboat in the Bay of Islands earlier this month.

He was airlifted to Middlemore Hospital where he underwent spinal surgery.

Three separate investigations are underway into the crash.