Inquiries & Recommendations

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On Sunday 30 October 2005 at about 1820, wagon UKR84 on Train 246, a Wellington to Auckland express freight service, derailed at 32.08 km, South Junction, between Pukerua Bay and Paekakariki, on the North Island Main Trunk. The wagon derailed as its leading bogie passed over a set of trailing points.

At the time of this incident the Taharoa Express and the loading operation at Port Taharoa were unique. Iron ore (including ironsand) was normally loaded dry, with particular care needed to ensure that the cargo moisture content was below what was called its transportable moisture limit. The transportable moisture limit was the moisture level at which the cargo was said to be safe from liquefaction.

On approach to Great Barrier Aerodrome, the aircraft undershot the runway and contacted the lip of the drainage ditch at the runway's end. The left undercarriage leg was torn off, and the aircraft slid to a halt on its belly and right undercarriage leg. None of the six occupants were injured.

On Friday 6 June 2003, Air Adventures New Zealand Limited Piper PA 31-350 Navajo Chieftain aeroplane ZK-NCA, was on an air transport charter flight from Palmerston North to Christchurch with one pilot and 9 passengers. At 1907 it was on an instrument approach to Christchurch Aerodrome at night in instrument meteorological conditions when it descended below minimum altitude, in a position where reduced visibility prevented runway or approach lights from being seen, to collide with trees and terrain 1.2 nm short of the runway.

On 5 April 1993 a motor vehicle travelling west on Bridge Street, Eltham, was struck by a southbound locomotive as it entered the Bridge Street level crossing. The driver and sole occupant of the motor vehicle was killed in the collision. The crossing was protected by warning lights and bells which were operating at the time of the accident.

On Thursday, 23 September 1999, at about 0703, the coastal tanker "Kakariki" was outbound from Dunedin with 19 crew, 2 supernumeraries, one harbour pilot and one trainee harbour pilot on board. The vessel was proceeding down Victoria Channel in the upper harbour of Port Otago at between 6 and 7 knots when it took a sudden sheer to port. The bridge team was able to counteract the sheer just short of the vessel running aground, realign it in the channel, and complete the outbound passage without further incident. There were no injuries and the vessel suffered no damage.

[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.]

[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.]

The Commission assisted the Australian Transport Safety Bureau in their investigation of this accident. The Australian report was released 30 August 2012 and is available on the Bureau's website (http://www.atsb.gov.au).

On Friday 5 April 2002 at about 0806, the locomotives for the Tranz Alpine passenger express collided with the stationary passenger car consist, which had been placed to the Christchurch station platform in preparation for the locomotives to be attached. The locomotive engineer, who was driving from the lead locomotive, was not injured and major damage was confined to 2 passenger cars. The consist was unoccupied at the time. The safety issue identified was an incorrect component fitted to the locomotive braking system.

On 4 September 1993 a passenger excursion train (A02) collided with a four-wheel-drive vehicle on a level crossing at Taupaki. The driver, the sole occupant of the motor vehicle, was fatally injured in the collision. As the crossing was already protected by flashing lights and bells, no specific safety issues were raised.

[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.]