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As accidents / incidents occur within the transport sector in New Zealand, TAIC endeavours to keep the regulators, operators and general public informed. This is achieved by many different methods, including but not limited to: radio, news releases, media conferences, social media updates and publication here. If you want to be kept abreast of the latest news etc, click the link at the bottom of the page.

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Aerial view of the container ship Shiling adrift in open ocean following a machinery failure during its second incident in 2023. The vessel is heavily laden with multi-coloured shipping containers stacked on deck. The bow is visibly trimmed low, and the ship appears to be listing slightly to port. Sea state is moderate under clear skies, with the New Zealand coastline faintly visible on the horizon. Image captured by the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter during a response operation

Media Release: Substandard ships should be banned from New Zealand

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.

Media release
Front end view of a railway track tamper machine derailed inside a tunnel. The tamper has come to rest with a noticeable lateral tilt, indicating loss of alignment with the rails. A significant quantity of crushed stone ballast has been pushed forward and accumulated ahead of the machine, consistent with it having run approximately 16 metres off the rails through loose ballast. The image also shows the tunnel interior, tunnel wall markings, and components of the tamper's cab and underframe.

Derailment report - Rules don’t keep overstretched workers safe

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.

News
Air New Zealand Airbus A320 aircraft ZK-OXJ in flight with landing gear extended, approaching for landing against a blue sky. The aircraft features a distinctive black-and-white koru fern livery.

TAIC reports on likely near collision of drone and passenger jet

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.

News
Aerial view of the container ship Shiling adrift in open ocean following a machinery failure during its second incident in 2023. The vessel is heavily laden with multi-coloured shipping containers stacked on deck. The bow is visibly trimmed low, and the ship appears to be listing slightly to port. Sea state is moderate under clear skies, with the New Zealand coastline faintly visible on the horizon. Image captured by the Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter during a response operation

Substandard ships should be banned from New Zealand

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.

News
Close-up view of the right-hand main landing gear of a Boeing 777 aircraft on a wet airport apron during rainfall. The image shows six main gear tyres; the rear-most tyre (right side of image) is visibly deflated and compressed under load, with sidewall deformation. Other tyres appear fully inflated. Water runoff is visible on the gear structure and pooling on the concrete surface. A ground vehicle is present in the background to the right.

TAIC reports on Boeing 777 veering off runway

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.

News
Two aircraft; twin-engine Beech Duchess and single-engine Cessna 172

Near-collision highlights safety lessons for all busy, unattended aerodromes

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.

News