Inquiries & Recommendations

Ngā ketuketutanga me ngā tūtohunga

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.

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.

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.

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 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 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.

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.

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.

On 24 March 2026, the Commission recommended that the chief executive of KiwiRail take immediate steps to improve the safety culture of their staff at Port Otago rail yard to increase compliance with KiwiRail’s Operating Rules and Procedures and reduce at-risk behaviours.

On 24 March 2026, the Commission recommended that the chief executive of KiwiRail take steps to ensure that when the emergency stop button is applied on its remote-control packs, there is an emergency alert automatically sent through to train control.

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.