Inquiries & Recommendations

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On 25 February 2026, the Commission recommended that KiwiRail utilise engineering safety controls in areas of its rail network where none currently exist, to mitigate the risk of human error by locomotive engineers and reduce signal passed at danger incidents.

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 25 March 2026, the Commission recommended that Maritime New Zealand actively promulgate IMO MSC.1/Circ.1533, ‘Revised guidelines on evacuation analysis for new and existing passenger ships’ and issue associated guidelines to all passenger ferry operators, and strongly encourage them to conduct and regularly review Escape, Evacuation and Rescue Analyses (EERAs) consistent with these guidelines, regardless of vessel construction date.

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 the Ministry of Transport, when monitoring NZTA’s regulatory performance, ensures that NZTA is fulfilling its safety oversight role effectively, including NZTA’s response to the increase in KiwiRail’s signal passed at danger incidents.

On 25 March 2026, the Commission recommended that the Director of Maritime New Zealand work with New Zealand commercial jet boating stakeholders to review and improve the requirements prescribed to commercial jet boat operators to ensure that safety measures on board are adequate to protect passengers from injury.

On 15 May 2024, the Commission recommended that the Secretary for Transport and the Director of Civil Aviation resolve the ambiguity in the definition of ‘crew members’ in commercial transport operations and take steps to clarify the use of the term in associated rules and Advisory Circulars.

On 2 July 2025, the Commission recommended that the CAA notify and work with EASA to ensure appropriate action was taken to identify and replace any defective fire switches.

On 15 May 2025, the Commission recommended that the Secretary for Transport take steps to introduce a legislative change that would give the Director of Maritime New Zealand powers to ban substandard ships from New Zealand under appropriate criteria.

The Commission recommended that the Secretary of Transport review and revise Civil Aviation Rule Part 91 to mandate the wearing of pilot restraint harnesses during critical phases of commercial balloon flights. (001/23)

On 25 March 2026, the Commission recommended Maritime New Zealand work with the Ministry of Transport and collaborate with other stakeholders to continue to develop, and then implement, a wider maritime incident response strategy assessment to identify areas most susceptible to very serious marine casualties, particularly mass fatality events, and strengthen the salvage and rescue capability in those areas.

On 25 March 2026, the Commission recommended that Maritime New Zealand prioritise the review of its Maritime Incident Readiness and Response Strategy (MIRRS) to ensure it is consistent with international conventions, resolutions and guidance, and incorporates the following: • an updated national maritime risk assessment • specific Cook Strait response plans • an across-stakeholder exercise programme.