Workplace Fatalities

Death at Ports of Auckland

The death of a young worker and Maritime Union member at the Ports of Auckland has led to an outpouring of grief from the community and the launch of a national inquiry in port health and safety.

26 year old Atiroa Tuaiti Jnr died on the morning of Tuesday 19 April 2022 in a workplace accident while working at the Ports of Auckland.

It is understood he fell from a height while working on the Singaporean flagged container ship Capitaine Tasman.

Atiroa was employed at stevedoring company Wallace Investments that operates at the Ports of Auckland.

He was an Otara resident who grew up on Aitutaki in the Cook Islands, but moved to South Auckland during his teens and attended Mt Roskill Grammar. He worked at the port for several years and was a well known and much loved member of his community.

He leaves a partner and two young children. Family members of Atiroa were working on the wharf when the accident occurred.

There has been a massive response by members of the public who expressed their condolences but also demanded action to prevent this ever happening again.

Death at Port of Lyttelton

Maritime Union member Don Grant died on the job at the Port of Lyttelton on 25 April, less than a week after a death at the Ports of Auckland.

In a statement, his family said that as name suppression lifted they wanted to share what he meant to them.

“Don was a devoted husband, an incredible father, a loving and involved grandfather, and friend to many.

“Don was loved, respected and admired by so many people. He was a generous, loyal and inspiring man who should have had many more years of life to enjoy.”

They said Grant’s family, friends and workmates were devastated by his tragic death.

“While Don loved his job at Lyttelton Port, all workers need to know that they are safe and will be coming home from work to their loved ones.

“We don’t want this to happen to anyone else.”

The family was still processing his loss, and asked for privacy while they grieved so they could continue “to digest and understand the tragedy”.

Mr Grant was fatally crushed while loading coal on the ship ETQ Aquarius at Cashin Quay. An investigation has begun.

A service was held in the port on International Workers Memorial Day on Thursday 28 April attended by over 100 port workers.

Port health and safety inquiry ordered

The Government has announced a range of actions to fix health and safety problems in New Zealand ports, following two deaths in ports in April 2022.

The Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Michael Wood says an investigation will be held by the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC).

Port companies are being asked to review their operations, and industry and unions will be asked if regulatory changes are required.

MUNZ and the RMTU made a joint statement to express their unity and determination to prevent any more unnecessary deaths in New Zealand ports.

Maritime Union of New Zealand National Secretary Craig Harrison says both port workers killed on the job were Maritime Union members.

He says after attending a service on the wharf for Atiroa Tuaiti in Ports of Auckland last week it was hard to see the effect on the workmates and loved ones. “The human cost of these deaths is enormous and it has been painful to see the great hurt and grief of family and workmates.”

Rail and Maritime Transport Union General Secretary Wayne Butson says many of the workers who have died in New Zealand ports in recent years have been young people.

All were fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, and had families and friends and workmates who have been left devastated by their loss, he says.

“Workers have a right to come home safely. These workers are carrying out essential work that our nation depends on. They have been failed by the system.”

Mr Butson says there are common systemic issues in the industry including staffing levels, fatigue due to excessive hours and shift work, productivity pressures, and failures around training and a safety culture.