Inquiries & Recommendations

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On Sunday 6 May 2001, at about 0838, a collision occurred between express passenger Train 600, Bay Express, and an excavator and front end loader working on the up main line at Muri, 31.4 km North Island Main Trunk. The maintenance plant was operating under Conditional Stop Protection when the collision occurred. Train 600 had been given authority to pass through the protected site at a time when one of the four work groups operating within an 11.9 km protected length understood they were clear to work. There were no injuries.

On Wednesday 10 August 2005, at about 0845, ZK-WWH, a Cessna U206G, took off from Queenstown Aerodrome for Mount Cook Aerodrome with a pilot and 5 passengers on board. Just after take-off, the pilot encountered control difficulties that culminated in the aircraft striking the runway with its left wing tip and failing to remain airborne. The aircraft was substantially damaged, but no one was injured.

A track machine derailed in Auckland’s Purewa tunnel after being authorised to enter a worksite where track had been removed. Key safety information wasn’t shared and staff were under-resourced. No one hurt, but lead machine was heavily damaged. Three TAIC recommendations to KiwiRail: verify track status, improve authorisation processes, and ensure safe staffing levels for safety-critical roles.

The Commission has closed its inquiry into this occurrence. It is satisfied on the facts before it that the circumstances of the accident do not allow the Commission to establish findings or make recommendations which may increase transport safety.

On 14 July 1994, Sikorsky S-55B ZK-HSS was engaged in aerial spraying in the Te Apiti Valley, 6 NM east of Elsthorpe, Hawkes Bay. The engine lost power at low level, necessitating a forced landing during which the helicopter caught fire and was burned out. The pilot escaped without injury.

On Monday 31 July 2006 at about 2054, eastbound express freight Train 826 stopped at Cora Lynn Arrival Signal 10244 on the Midland Line. The arrival signal was displaying a green aspect, while at the same time the facing points were set in the reverse position and the "L" light was not illuminated.

On Tuesday, 6 July 1999, a loaded petrol wagon on Train 230, a northbound Wellington to Auckland express freight, derailed approximately 4 km south of Paraparaumu when a wheel on the leading bogie moved in on its axle. The brakes on the wagon had failed to release which caused the wheels to overheat. This overheating had been reported by a passing motorist and the train duly stopped just short of Paraparaumu, but not before the wagon had derailed. An incorrect tolerance fit of the wheel on the axle allowed the wheel to move inwards on the axle and derail the wagon.

On 12 December 2022 the Danish seine fishing vessel Boy Roel was fishing in the Bay of Plenty. While a net was being hauled from the seabed, the skipper climbed over the top of a winch to access the wheelhouse. The skipper’s leg became caught and was drawn into the rope that was hauling in the net as the rope wound around the winch drum.

On 24 December 1993 Train 630 struck a pedestrian in Hastings. The safety issues identified by this investigation were the lack of effective protection for pedestrians on either of two footpaths which crossed the track in the area of this accident which is a mid-city park.

[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.]