Inquiries & Recommendations

Ngā ketuketutanga me ngā tūtohunga

On 25 March 2026, the Commission recommended that KiwiRail review their emergency response planning, training, resourcing and risk mitigations to assure themselves they could effectively respond to a maritime emergency. The review should include examination of international conventions, resolutions and guidance that outline best practices.

On 25 March 2026, the Commission recommended that KiwiRail effectively implement the decision-support system for its vessels’ engineering departments and regularly exercise it to ensure crew familiarisation and its effectiveness.

On 19 November 2025, the Commission recommended to the Secretary for Transport to work with the Civil Aviation Authority to address gaps in the Civil Aviation Rules relating to airspace reviews, namely to: - clearly define which agency is responsible for conducting regular comprehensive airspace reviews in New Zealand - ensure comprehensive airspace reviews are conducted to identify current and emerging aviation safety risks that may require airspace solutions or other mitigations to achieve an acceptable level of safety for all airspace users.

On 19 November 2025, the Commission recommended to the Director of the Civil Aviation Authority that the Authority conduct a comprehensive review of the lower level airspace around Whangārei to determine what changes are required to mitigate the risk of mid-air collisions or serious incidents and to then take appropriate action.

On 25 February 2026, the Commission recommended that Airbus revise its standard documentation about operating the thrust levers in the Flight Crew Operating Manual and the Flight Crews Techniques Manual, to ensure that pilots are fully aware of the risk of unintentional thrust lever positioning so they can be more prepared to operate the thrust levers and correctly select their intended settings.