The lesson for all high-risk work sites: don’t rely on procedures alone; physical protections are essential. TAIC recommends that KiwiRail: Improve authorisation for rail movements; Require physical protections for removed track; and ensure staffing levels and support for critical roles.
Media release, first published 6 June 2025Substandard ships should be banned from New Zealand, under appropriate criteria, says the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) in its final report into the container ship Shiling, which twice had to be rescued and towed back to port in 2023.TAIC’s Chief Investigator of Accidents, Naveen Kozhuppakalam, says substandard ships represent a real risk to their crew members, to New Zealanders – including coastal and harbour pilots, stevedores, and other contractors – and to New Zealand’s coastal environment.
NB: The below is a brief plain English summary of key points in the report.
Media release, first published 6 June 2025Substandard ships should be banned from New Zealand, under appropriate criteria, says the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) in its final report into the container ship Shiling, which twice had to be rescued and towed back to port in 2023.TAIC’s Chief Investigator of Accidents, Naveen Kozhuppakalam, says substandard ships represent a real risk to their crew members, to New Zealanders – including coastal and harbour pilots, stevedores, and other contractors – and to New Zealand’s coastal environment.“The Commission found that the Shiling had a history of deficiencies and that it’s virtually certain the ship wasn’t seaworthy while in New Zealand.”On 15 April 2023, the Shiling was under pilotage outbound from Wellington and had just initiated a turn into the harbour entrance channel when it suffered a total loss of electrical power, which caused the main engine to stop.
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) says rules and procedures failed to prevent a derailment in Auckland’s Purewa tunnel because critical staff were overloaded, unsupported, and unaware of missing track.TAIC’s final report, published today, investigates how three linked tamper machines* came to derail inside the Purewa tunnel in Auckland just after midnight on 9 October 2023.
Briefly: Grounding near Auckland: new TAIC report reminds us why the basics always matter.
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) is highlighting the need for better identification and control of drones and operators.TAIC investigated a report of a near-collision between an Air New Zealand Airbus passenger flight and what was reported to be a drone, at 2000 feet on the approach to Auckland airport last April.The Commission found that it was very likely to have been a drone, in breach of current rules prohibiting drones from within 4 km of airports except in limited and approved circumstances.Neither the drone nor its operator could be identified.
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has released its final report on the incident on the evening of 27 January 2023 when a Boeing 777 passenger aircraft veered off the runway at Auckland International Airport.The veer-off likely happened because heavy rain contributed to a late transition from autopilot to manual control.Since the incident, the aircraft’s operator, Air New Zealand, has amended its operational procedures and information and has provided training to reinforce the technique for smooth transition from autopilot to manual control.“TAIC welcomes the safety actions taken by the operator and is making no new recommendations,” says TAIC Chief Investigator of Accidents Naveen Kozhuppakalam.The Commission’s report describes how the Boeing 777, ZK-OKN was on a scheduled flight from Melbourne to Auckland.
A serious near-collision at Ardmore Airport has prompted the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) to call for improvements to aircraft visibility, communication between pilots, and sharing of critical information about operations at busy unattended aerodromes across New Zealand.TAIC’s report is particularly relevant to pilots, aircraft operators, and aerodrome managers.On 3 October 2023, a twin-engine Beech Duchess passed within 20 feet of a Cessna 172 while both were on final approach at night.
NB: The below is a brief plain English summary of key points in the Report issued today by the Transport Accident Investigation Commission.
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has released its final report on the 2023 crash of an air ambulance helicopter on Mount Pirongia.
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has found that the cruise vessel Fiordland Navigator ran aground in Doubtful Sound on 24 January 2024.