The Transport Accident Investigation Commission is sailing into a strong head wind with its recommendation that substandard ships should be banned from New Zealand, under “appropriate criteria”.
The recommendation is included in the commission’s final report into the container ship Shiling, which twice had to be rescued and towed back to port in 2023.
TAIC’s Chief Investigator of Accidents, Naveen Kozhuppakalam, says substandard ships represent a real risk to their crew members, to New Zealanders – including coastal and harbour pilots, stevedores, and other contractors – and to New Zealand’s coastal environment.
The Commission found that the Shiling had a history of deficiencies “and that it’s virtually certain the ship wasn’t seaworthy while in New Zealand.”
“The Commission is calling on the Ministry of Transport to consider legislating to give Maritime New Zealand the authority to ban certain ships from New Zealand. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has this power,” said Mr Kozhuppakalam.
TAIC is also recommending improvements to New Zealand’s tow-salvage capability.
And it has identified several safety issues relating to the international and domestic systems for regulating foreign-flagged ships, and the ability of ship owners to devolve their responsibilities for safe operations to third parties without regulatory consequences.
But under the Luxon government, the emphasis is on economic growth rather than the protection of the environment.
And it wants less regulation rather than more, including health and safety rules.
The PM has been enthusing about plans to replace the Resource Management Act, “fix” our broken health and safety laws, and make “nation-shaping investments”.
His government has introduced the Fast Track regime, streamlining the consenting process for projects of regional and national significance.
This paves the way for work on projects that did not pass muster – among other things for environmental reasons – under the former regime.
Luxon said:
“We are re-writing the Overseas Investment Act, so major investments from offshore are consented faster and more reliably.
“We are tearing down the barriers to fresh investment in renewable and non-renewable energy, by repealing the oil and gas ban and ushering in new consenting rules for wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal.
“And we are doubling down on efforts to showcase New Zealand to the world, promoting our tourism and international education sectors offshore so we can attract even more people to spend their money here.”
Ministers are responding to the “full steam ahead” command which has been telegraphed from the bridge.
Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced a new scheme allowing “trusted” builders to sign off their own work and a mandatory target will be set to tackle building inspection wait times.
The Government has opened public consultation on proposals to make it easier to consent quarries and mines to enable more infrastructure development.
Just a few days ago, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden announced that – as part of a broader suite of health and safety reforms – the Government has agreed to a range of changes “that will significantly refocus WorkSafe from an enforcement agency to one that engages early to support businesses and individuals to manage their critical risks”.
Enforcement will be taking a back seat. The Minister said:
“A culture where the regulator is feared for its punitive actions rather than appreciated for its ability to provide clear and consistent guidance is not conducive to positive outcomes in the workplace.”
The rules are being relaxed on other fronts:
The Commission found that the Shiling had a history of deficiencies “and that it’s virtually certain the ship wasn’t seaworthy while in New Zealand.”
“The Commission is calling on the Ministry of Transport to consider legislating to give Maritime New Zealand the authority to ban certain ships from New Zealand. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has this power,” said Mr Kozhuppakalam.
TAIC is also recommending improvements to New Zealand’s tow-salvage capability.
And it has identified several safety issues relating to the international and domestic systems for regulating foreign-flagged ships, and the ability of ship owners to devolve their responsibilities for safe operations to third parties without regulatory consequences.
But under the Luxon government, the emphasis is on economic growth rather than the protection of the environment.
And it wants less regulation rather than more, including health and safety rules.
The PM has been enthusing about plans to replace the Resource Management Act, “fix” our broken health and safety laws, and make “nation-shaping investments”.
His government has introduced the Fast Track regime, streamlining the consenting process for projects of regional and national significance.
This paves the way for work on projects that did not pass muster – among other things for environmental reasons – under the former regime.
Luxon said:
“We are re-writing the Overseas Investment Act, so major investments from offshore are consented faster and more reliably.
“We are tearing down the barriers to fresh investment in renewable and non-renewable energy, by repealing the oil and gas ban and ushering in new consenting rules for wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal.
“And we are doubling down on efforts to showcase New Zealand to the world, promoting our tourism and international education sectors offshore so we can attract even more people to spend their money here.”
Ministers are responding to the “full steam ahead” command which has been telegraphed from the bridge.
Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has announced a new scheme allowing “trusted” builders to sign off their own work and a mandatory target will be set to tackle building inspection wait times.
The Government has opened public consultation on proposals to make it easier to consent quarries and mines to enable more infrastructure development.
Just a few days ago, Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden announced that – as part of a broader suite of health and safety reforms – the Government has agreed to a range of changes “that will significantly refocus WorkSafe from an enforcement agency to one that engages early to support businesses and individuals to manage their critical risks”.
Enforcement will be taking a back seat. The Minister said:
“A culture where the regulator is feared for its punitive actions rather than appreciated for its ability to provide clear and consistent guidance is not conducive to positive outcomes in the workplace.”
The rules are being relaxed on other fronts:
- The Medicines Act has been amended to provide nurse practitioners greater prescribing rights.
- Regulations have been changed to allow podiatrists to prescribe medicines relating to their work.
- A new two-year pharmacy degree is offering a fast-track into the profession – Waikato University says its Master of Pharmacy Practice provides a quicker pathway for registering overseas trained pharmacists, and a new way into the primary healthcare sector for science graduates.
- From 2026 students will be able to train as associate psychologists by taking a one-year post-graduate course at Auckland University of Technology (AUT) or University of Canterbury. AUT Associate Professor in Psychology and Neuroscience Liesje Donkin – acknowledging it could take up to seven years to train as a psychologist in New Zealand – said it was hoped the course would lead to a wider range of people working in psychology and mental health support by offering an alternative way into the profession.
Bob Edlin is a veteran journalist and editor for the Point of Order blog - where this article was sourced.
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