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.
Issue date: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.
Issue date: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.
Issue date: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.
Issue 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.
Issue date: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.
Issue date:On 30 April 2026, the Commission recommended that the Chief Executive of KiwiRail Holdings Limited ensure that all structural-asset inspections and audit procedures are in full compliance with KiwiRail’s quality management system and standards, particularly with regard to riverbed-profile monitoring.
Issue date:On 30 April 2026, the Commission recommended that the Chief Executive of KiwiRail Holdings Limited review the Trigger Action Response Plans for all high-risk assets to ensure they contain adequate responses to mitigate the risks specific to that asset.
Issue date:On 30 April 2026, the Commission recommended that the Chief Executive of KiwiRail Holdings Limited develop and document KiwiRail’s risk-based asset management and maintenance system for flood and scour risk to rail bridges across the rail network.
Issue date:On 24 March 2026, the Commission recommended that the chief executive of KiwiRail includes in KiwiRail’s train crew training risk-triggered commentary driving, and then ensures it is implemented in practice.
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