Inquiries & Recommendations

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New Zealand has completed its support for this inquiry. Please note, TAIC will not be producing a report for this inquiry.

On 27 February 2016, the bulk carrier Mount Hikurangi had just completed loading a cargo of logs at the port of Tauranga. The ship's crew were involved in applying chain lashings to the logs that had been loaded above deck when a deck cadet fell from the stack of logs 10 metres onto the wharf below, then into the sea. The deck cadet did not survive this fall. His body was recovered by divers a number of hours later. The deck cadet was not wearing a safety harness attached to a fall arrestor while working close to the edge of the log stack, despite a company requirement to do so.

On Friday 23 March 2001, at 0705, Hughes 369D helicopter ZK-HMN experienced an engine flameout as the pilot applied collective control normally to arrest the helicopter’s descent. The pilot landed the helicopter in trees on a mountain slope at about 3000 feet, some 12 km northwest of Milford Sound. The pilot and the crew member on board the helicopter were uninjured.

On Sunday 24 April 2005 at about 1150, the coastal passenger and freight ferry Arahura was approaching the entrance to Tory Channel while on passage between Wellington and Picton when it sustained a major loss of propulsion power. The Master was able to abort the entrance into Tory Channel and con the ship safely back into open water where the Arahura remained until power was restored. The Master then conned the ship to Picton, via the northern entrance to Queen Charlotte Sound, where repairs were effected to one of the diesel generators. Safety issues identified included:

On Tuesday 30 April 2002, at about 1630, New Zealand Helicopters Hughes 369D helicopter ZK-HRV was being flown on a scenic passenger flight from Mount Tarawera to the company base near Rotorua when engine trouble arose. Before the pilot could land the helicopter, the engine failed and he was forced to make an auto-rotational landing on difficult terrain, where the helicopter rolled over. None of the 4 occupants was injured in the accident. The engine failed from oil starvation, following a fracture of a fitting in the oil line to the torque gauge.

[A preliminary investigation showed that the circumstances were not likely to have significant implications for transport safety. Consistent with section 13 of the TAIC Act the Commission discontinued the investigation and no report was published.]

On Wednesday 1 July 2009, an elderly male passenger who was vision-impaired had just alighted from passenger Train 8125 on the Down platform at Newmarket West station. He was walking along the platform as the train left and he veered into the side of the moving train, spun around and fell through the gap between the train and the platform edge onto the track below. The passenger was fatally injured. No conclusive reason for the passenger veering into the side of the train could be established, but it was likely related to his impaired vision or, distraction, or a combination of both.

On Tuesday 18 February 2003, at about 1530, as the spectator fleet proceeded back towards Auckland Harbour after race 3 of the America’s Cup regatta, the pleasure launch "Barossa" and the passenger trimaran "Triptych" collided in the vicinity of the entrance to the Rangitoto Channel. There were 10 people on board the Barossa, and 7 crew and 64 passengers on board the "Triptych". During the collision 3 of those on the launch fell or jumped into the sea but they were rescued by other craft.

[A preliminary investigation showed that the circumstances were not likely to have significant implications for transport safety. Consistent with section 13 of the TAIC Act the Commission discontinued the investigation and no report was published.]

Between 21 June 2008 and 7 May 2009, 3 express freight trains derailed at various locations on the North Island Main Trunk (NIMT) line. All 3 derailments were caused by the failure and collapse of bogie side frames on wagons. The side frame failures were all similar in that they started with a fatigue crack that propagated over a period of days rather than weeks, through the box section of the side frame, until the remaining material failed in overload during normal train operations.

At 1555 on Friday 26 October 2007, Cessna A152 ZK-KID was on a cross-country navigation training flight when it entered a narrow and rising valley at low level from which escape was impossible. As the instructor attempted to manoeuvre out of the valley, the aircraft struck several trees. The instructor was killed and the student suffered serious injuries, but was able to walk out and summon assistance.