A STEVEDORE was killed on Tuesday (19 April) at the Port of Auckland while working the containership Capitaine Tasman.
Ports of Auckland in a statement confirmed there was a “serious incident” involving a worker employed by stevedoring company Wallace Investments.
“This is tragic news and a shock to us all,” POAL said.
“Our deepest sympathy goes out to the family, friends and colleagues of the person involved. Work on this vessel stopped immediately and an official investigation is underway.”
Maritime Union of New Zealand national secretary Craig Harrison said the death of an Auckland port worker is a tragedy that will be devastating for family and workmates.
MUNZ identified the worker who was killed as 26-year-old Atiroa Tuaiti.
Mr Harrison said the tragedy reinforces the dangers faced by port workers everyday throughout New Zealand. He said MUNZ wants a national inquiry into port safety following a number of deaths and injuries in New Zealand ports in recent years.
This is the fourth fatal incident involving Port of Auckland since 2017. In 2017, a swimmer was struck and killed by a pilot boat; in 2018, a worker was killed in a straddle-carrier accident; and in 2020, a worker was crushed by a container. Subsequent to these incidents, POAL commissioned a review by Construction Health and Safety New Zealand. The report was damning, identifying a need for an increased focus on safety from senior management and leaders. POAL CEO Tony Gibson stepped down shortly after the report’s findings were released.
ITF president and ITF Dockers’ Section chair Paddy Crumlin today expressed condolences on behalf of the global union federation and its hundreds of dockers’ affiliates, to the family and workmates of a Maritime Union of New Zealand member who was killed working at the Ports of Auckland.
“Disappointingly, this is not the first death in recent years to have taken place at the Ports of Auckland,” Mr Crumlin said.
“It is not good for any port or national industry to develop a reputation as an unsafe place to send your loved ones to work, wondering if they will come home at the end of their shift. For this family, their loved one didn’t come home. No family should have to go through that.”
Mr Crumlin said any workplace death is devastating and especially in a close workplace community like stevedoring.
“Our hearts go out to those who will be mourning today, and we affirm our solidarity to support them in getting the answers they deserve,” Mr Crumlin said.
POAL said it has the ultimate responsibility for everyone who comes onto the port site. It said it would support Wallace Investments and Maritime New Zealand in their investigations and would support the implementation of any recommended corrective actions.
The ship involved in the incident, Capitaine Tasman (IMO 9354533), is flagged in Singapore and has a capacity of 1730 TEU. According to AIS data, it is still berthed at Port of Auckland as of midday 20 April.
