e Maritimes is the o cial magazine of the Maritime Union of New Zealand ISSN 1176-3418
Editor Victor Billot victor.billot@munz.org.nz
Authorised by Carl Findlay, 220 Willis Street, Wellington
Cover photo:
Aboard the MMA Vision – Andy Miller, Horse, Peter Churchill, Fred Hennings, Murray Wood. “All very proud MUNZ members!” (Photo supplied by Fred Hennings)
MUNZ National Of!cials
National Secretary Carl Findlay
021 760 887 carl.!ndlay@munz.org.nz
National President Josh Greer 027 348 2692 josh.greer@munz.org.nz
National Assistant Secretary Fiona Mansell 022 302 3010 !ona.mansell@munz.org.nz
National Vice President Gerard Loader 021 128 6236 gerard.loader@munz.org.nz
MUNZ National Of!ce
Level One, Waterside House (04) 3850792 220 Willis Street PO Box 27004 Wellington Wellington 6141 www.munz.org.nz
O ce Manager Ramesh Pathmanathan ramesh@munz.org.nz
Senior Admin. Albert Williams albert.williams@munz.org.nz
BY CARL FINDLAY
NATIONAL SECRETARY
Maritime Union leading from the front
!is report outlines recent activities, key developments, and upcoming priorities for our Union.
Lyttelton Dispute
MUNZ and RMTU at Lyttelton Port Company have been engaged in a multi-pronged dispute. One area of focus is the restructuring of the foreman workforce, which we have challenged legally.
e other major concern is the ongoing threat of outsourcing or privatization, driven by right-wing elements on the Christchurch City Council, the owners of LPC.
We are working with the Keep Our Port Public community campaign, and have placed local newspaper and online ads calling for Councillors and candidates in the local election to listen to workers and keep the port owned by the people of Christchurch.
Local Government Elections
We encourage all members to enrol and vote in the upcoming local elections for Councils and Community Boards. is is especially important in regions where ports are under threat of privatisation, automation, and outsourcing. More information will be available later in this edition of the Maritimes.
Council of Trade Unions Leadership
Sandra Grey has been elected the new President of the NZCTU. Current President Richard Wagsta' will be !nishing up in October.
I have met with Sandra twice to explain the direction MUNZ is heading, particularly around our Union Delegate training. Sandra is very interested to see how it works out, with a view to revamping CTU courses in the future.
Delegate Training
MUNZ rolled out our !rst MUNZ-speci!c training, run by Marlon Drake and his team from Te Ohu, on 13–14 August at Auckland Local 13. is was a really successful event with 15 delegates from around the North Island attending.
Going forward, I am hopeful there will be MUNZ-speci!c training by Te Ohu in the South Island, as they are opening an o ce in Christchurch soon. I see this training as a foundation block of resetting our Union, one good delegate at a time.
Political Engagement
We have been actively engaged in advocacy on behalf of our members. Our submission to the parliamentary inquiry on the Ports and the Maritime Sector has been received well, and we appear to have across-the-board support for the “Hub-andSpoke” model MUNZ is promoting.
e New Zealand Shipping Federation, Port of Auckland, all NZ Maritime Unions, and even Maersk are in favour.
I have also been to Parliament to speak with Labour Transport spokesperson Tangi Utikere and Greens Transport spokesperson Julie Anne Genter, who are on side with our submission.
We have plans to meet with Barbara Edmonds, Kieran McAnulty, and Chloe Swarbrick to continue promoting our position.
e work we have undertaken will not produce a result overnight, but we are doing what MUNZ does: leading from the front and battling for better outcomes for our members.
Labour Party Ports Legislation
Labour MP for M$ngere, Lemauga Lydia Sosene, has a private member’s bill aimed at making council-owned ports more transparent and accountable. is bill was originally drawn up during the POAL dispute.
MUNZ have met with Lemauga Lydia, as this bill is more relevant than ever with the current situation at LPC and the looming threat of automation at the Ports of Nelson and Tauranga.
Immigration
Simon Mitchell and I met with MBIE Immigration o cials to discuss the use of Speci!c Purpose Visas (SPV) in the shipping industry.
As a result, MUNZ can now write guidelines for immigration o cers on the allocation of visas for foreign seafarers when there is no work for NZ Seafarers.
We have also written to Immigration Minister Erica Stanford to put her on notice about the SPV issue, and we have received a substantial reply. We are currently taking legal advice on this situation.
Infrastructure Commission
I attended the Infrastructure Commission symposium and found it was a real eye-opener. In a list of the top 30 infrastructure projects, there was no mention of ports.
I recently met with Commission Chair Raveen Jaduram to learn more about their thinking and get ports on their radar. We have also supplied him with a copy of our submission on the Port and Maritime sector.
O shore
Since the Government announced it is re-establishing oil and gas permits, I have met with Minister Shane Jones of NZ First to promote jobs for New Zealand seafarers in the industry.
We are working with Will Tracey and the MUA team in WA to ensure we have the right contacts for new operators.
Industry Skills Board
I have applied for a seat on the Automotive, Transport and Logistics Industry Skills Board via the CTU. is sector covers Maritime, so hopefully I get a start.
We should be encouraging as many MUNZ members as possible with the right skills to be a part of these industry boards.
Waterside House
MUNZ is in a dispute with Wellington City Council over water rates for Waterside House a%er a massive bill revealed a leak, which has since been !xed.
We have engaged a property lawyer to !ght back with a view to reaching a settlement. On a positive note, through our real estate advisor, we have achieved 100% tenancy occupancy in Waterside House, including the seventh (oor. is is the !rst time in a long time.
Upcoming Dates
Please note the following upcoming meeting dates:
• Finance Committee: Tuesday 2 December 2025.
• National Council: Wednesday 3 and ursday 4 December 2025.
Union of
of appreciation and
The plaque commemorates the solidarity and support shown for striking and later sacked MUNZ members in 2012. MUNZ members around the country were on every picket line in support of our members during the 2023 PFU’s strike action. The Unions have a history of supporting each other through the most challenging of times.
At the Pay Equity Rally, Auckland, Saturday 20 September 2025, from left Mhairi Findlay, Local 13 Secretary Grant Williams and MUNZ National Secretary Carl Findlay
Maritime
New Zealand National Secretary Carl Findlay presented a plaque
solidarity to NZPFU National Vice President and Auckland Local Secretary Martin Campbell and members at City Station earlier this year.
MARITIME UNION WARNS AUTOMATION MAY COME AT HIGH COST
!e Maritime Union of New Zealand says the introduction of self-driving trucks at Port of Napier is a risky move, citing the disastrous consequences of the Ports of Auckland (POAL) automation project as a cautionary tale for the industry.
MUNZ National Secretary Carl Findlay says the move by Napier Port to introduce a (eet of autonomous battery-electric trucks in 2026 is a threat to jobs, safety, and productivity across the sector.
e project is estimated to cost between $20 million and $25 million and result in redundancies among heavy plant operators.
Mr Findlay says while the immediate workers facing displacement at Napier Port are not MUNZ members, this development threatens all port workers and all workers across New Zealand.
“Port of Napier operates under a mixed ownership model. As a company majority-owned by the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, Napier Port has a social responsibility to the local people and the community.”
Mr Findlay says Ports of Auckland’s failed attempt at automation stands as a costly lesson for New Zealand port operators.
“ e abandonment of the automated straddle carrier programme at POAL in June 2022 was an inevitable result of the hubris and irresponsibility of the previous management under then CEO Tony Gibson,” says Mr Findlay. is failure resulted in a direct write-o' of $65 million in so%ware and systems, but the !gure understates the true economic damage.
A comprehensive report estimated the total cost to the port and the wider New Zealand economy at a staggering $1.2 billion. e failure at Ports of Auckland demonstrated that automation is not a guaranteed route to e ciency, leading instead to severe congestion, plummeting productivity, and major safety risks, says Mr Findlay.
“Management at POAL failed to listen to the warnings from MUNZ and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), which were later vindicated by the failure. We urge Napier Port not to make the same mistake.”
Automation is promoted as inevitable, yet MUNZ is questioning why the job displacement falls squarely on workers on the frontline.
“We ask where the AI axe will fall next. Will port managers and CEOs be automated out of a job if AI can demonstrably do a better job of planning, strategy, and risk assessment? Or will we just see more and more managers and less and less workers?”
Mr Findlay says MUNZ is engaged with the global !ght to ensure technology serves workers, not replaces them, standing !rm with our international brothers and sisters in the maritime industry.
“MUNZ is attending the ‘People Over Pro!t: AntiAutomation Conference’ being hosted by the International Dockers Council (IDC) in Lisbon, Portugal in November 2025. is summit aims to collectively strategise, share experiences, and strengthen the united front against job-replacing automation.”
National Council Forges Path Forward
!e Maritime Union of New Zealand’s National Council convened in Wellington from 4–6 June 2025, to set a strategic direction going forward, supported by messages of international solidarity and a renewed campaign to revitalise coastal shipping.
Delegates from ports around the country, alongside international guests, tackled a packed agenda focused on strengthening the union from within and !ghting for the future of the nation’s maritime industry.
Bold National Strategy
National Secretary Carl Findlay unveiled a comprehensive four-year national strategy, born from discussions at the 2024 conference, aimed at future-proo!ng the union.
e strategy’s vision is for “a strong, united, and !nancially sustainable Maritime Union e'ectively representing and advancing the industrial, political, and social interests of all maritime workers in Aotearoa New Zealand, as part of a global workers movement”.
Key priorities include:
• Financial stability and good governance.
• Building industrial strength and ensuring member well-being.
• Organisational development and growth.
• E'ective political action and campaigning.
• Strengthening international and domestic solidarity.
A signi!cant proposal is to formally recognise the union’s establishment date as 1879, linking MUNZ directly to the founding of the Seaman’s Union.
is move, which honours the union’s legacy, will be put forward for rati!cation at the 2028 National Conference.
Progress is being made on the move towards regionalisation, creating Northern, Central, and Southern Regions to pool resources, support smaller branches, and create a more consistent and powerful national structure.
Moving into the regional model does not mean branches will lose their individual identity as local executives and !nances will be maintained.
!e Fight for Coastal Shipping
e centrepiece of the meeting was an focus on reviving New Zealand’s coastal shipping (eet.
A panel featuring Jamie Newlyn from the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), Ian Bray of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), and representatives from Maritime NZ and the Ministry of Transport discussed challenges and opportunities.
Jamie Newlyn shared insights from the MUA’s campaign, highlighting their e'orts to rebuild a strategic (eet and o'ering to share research and submissions with MUNZ.
Ian Bray spoke powerfully about the exploitation of international seafarers in an unregulated market, noting the ITF had recovered millions in stolen wages and stressing that a uni!ed union front is essential to convince politicians to act.
In a decisive display of commitment, the National Council authorised major funding from the Seafarers Fighting Fund to drive the coastal shipping campaign forward.
e campaign will focus on developing robust policy to present to the government, lobbying ministers, building a coalition of stakeholders, and ensuring New Zealand has a secure supply chain and a resilient freight network.
Global Solidarity
e meeting was distinguished by a strong international presence, reinforcing the global nature of the workers’ movement.
A delegation from the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Local 1526 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, received a warm welcome.
President Johnnie Dixon delivered a powerful update on the ILA’s !ght against port automation, stating that automation only bene!ts corporations and is designed to eliminate jobs.
He a rmed autonomous ships are not welcome at ILA ports and shared that it has been proven ILA labour is more e cient than automated systems, a message that resonated with delegates.
Supporting Members’ Well-being
e National Council rea rmed its commitment to the health and welfare of MUNZ members.
A presentation from Hunterlink, the MUA’s mental health program in Australia, highlighted its con!dential, unionfocused support service, which is already available to Kiwi workers via a 24-hour toll-free number.
e service provides a crucial alternative to employer-led EAP programs and specializes in issues like drug and alcohol problems, o'ering a neutral party for workplace disputes. e council supported a push to have Hunterlink included in all collective agreements.
Christy Cain from Protect promoted the union-established income protection, severance, and redundancy insurance scheme, with negotiations underway to include it in port collective agreements.
e Women’s Report, presented by Annette McCauley, highlighted successful networking and fundraising events.
In recognition of these e'orts, the National Council approved a donation to the upcoming trans–Tasman WIMDOI (Women in Male Dominated Occupations and Industries) conference being held in Rotorua in May 2026.
Union Business and Future Focus
e National Council addressed internal matters, including updating the union’s rules to comply with the new Incorporated Societies Act 2022, a process guided by the Rules Committee. Financially, the union is making progress, with a signi!cant improvement in its !nancial performance once the costs of the 2024 )uadrennial Conference are accounted for.
e meeting closed with a renewed sense of purpose. e challenges are clear, from redundancies at Lyttelton and Wellington to the ever-present threat of automation.
e message from the National Council was unanimous: MUNZ is organized, united, and ready to !ght for the future of maritime workers in Aotearoa New Zealand.
President of ILA Local 1526 Fort Lauderdale Johnnie Dixon and delegates from Local 1526 present MUNZ with a commemorative gift at the MUNZ National Council, June 2025
Battle for the Strait
!e Cook Strait Interislander ferry service, New Zealand’s vital maritime bridge between the North and South Islands, is in crisis.
e abrupt 2023 cancellation of the Inter-island Resilient Connection (iReX) project by Finance Minister Nicola Willis plunged the future of this critical national link into chaos, leaving ferry workers facing uncertainty and the nation’s supply chain dangerously exposed.
is is not just a commercial failure. It is a betrayal of the skilled seafarers who keep the country moving.
e scrapped iReX project included two new rail-enabled ferries and modernised port infrastructure. Critics have called its cancellation a catastrophic act of short-sighted economic vandalism.
Although the government paid $144 million to exit the contract with Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in South Korea, the total sunk cost of the abandoned project has risen to $671 million of taxpayer money, with nothing to show but a weakened transport lifeline.
Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) National Secretary Carl Findlay condemned the decision: “ is government has ripped up a world-class deal for two state-of-the-art vessels and replaced it with chaos and uncertainty.”
Redundancies and Retirements
e iReX cancellation and decades of underinvestment are causing job losses and early vessel retirements.
e government’s failure to secure a modern (eet forced KiwiRail to cut operations and sta'. In May 2025 it proposed 70 redundancies a'ecting MUNZ members in the deck and catering departments. ese cuts followed the withdrawal of the Aratere in August 2025 for wharf redevelopment at Picton.
MUNZ Wellington Branch Secretary Fiona Mansell said the decision “rips the heart out of our maritime workforce, leaving dedicated workers and their families facing an uncertain future.”
KiwiRail said the reductions were necessary as the (eet shrinks from three ships to two, with replacements not expected until 2029.
Reality on the Water
For crews aboard the Kaitaki, Kaiarahi, and sidelined Aratere, the past two years have been marked by failures: blackouts, steering malfunctions, gearbox issues, and even groundings.
e Aratere ran aground in June 2024, while the Kaitaki lost power in January 2023, prompting a mayday call and a $400,000 !ne for KiwiRail. ese incidents re(ect ships being pushed beyond their design life.
Union members describe immense stress, knowing they are the last line of defence. Each successful crossing is a testament to their skill under growing risk. Findlay said:
“Our members are holding together a service with vessels that are not !t for purpose. Removing the rail-enabled Aratere severed a critical rail link and proved our warnings about (eet fragility correct.”
Every cancelled sailing disrupts freight and tourism, costing millions and damaging New Zealand’s reputation for reliable core infrastructure.
The Union’s Stand
A%er the iReX cancellation, MUNZ pushed for a clear plan that prioritised workers and the national interest.
In a surprising shi%, the union built a working relationship with the new Minister for Rail, Winston Peters. MUNZ argued that losing rail-enabled ferries would cripple the integrated transport network and force freight onto congested roads.
e pressure worked. In March 2025 Peters con!rmed two new Cook Strait ferries would be publicly owned and rail-enabled.
Findlay called the decision a “victory for common sense.”
At great cost and years of delay, a shipyard has now been selected with delivery targeted for 2029. Findlay warned: “ ere can be no backsliding, no cutting corners, and no foreign-(agged ships of shame undermining New Zealand seafarers. is service is a public good, not a political football.”
A Critical Crossroads
e Cook Strait ferry !asco has exposed a core vulnerability. Abandoning iReX cost the country dearly in money and time.
MUNZ’s message is clear: seafarers need safe, modern vessels, and the public deserves a resilient connection between the two islands. e pragmatic outcome on rail-enabled ferries, achieved with Minister Peters, shows progress is possible. is struggle is about more than ships. It is about the principle that essential infrastructure must be invested in, protected, and run for the bene!t of all New Zealanders.
MUNZ and its members remain determined to hold government accountable and secure the future of the Cook Strait crossing for generations to come.
With the recent announcement of the Aratere retirement, the Branch has been busy with organising and meeting members at work sites.
!e Branch Executive, the Veterans, our National Secretary and legal counsel Simon Mitchell KC have all done their best to get alongside our members at Interislander to o er support during a tough, challenging time.
No matter where in the country/world we go the support will always be there. To those of you who have been impacted by the Interislander redundancies, my sincere condolences to you all.
It is never a pleasant experience, especially since this is the third redundancy the Wellington Branch has gone through in less than 12 months. It has not been an easy run for our Branch, however we must keep on going. I wish you all the best for your future endeavours.
Takutai Chief fnal visit to Lyttelton, 16 August 2024 (Photo by Mark McCrorie at OnSceneMedia Ltd)
!e battle for the future of Lyttelton Port is being fought on two fronts – on the waterfront, where a hostile management is trying to axe jobs and undermine safety, and in the political arena, where the threat of privatisation puts a vital public asset at risk.
For Lyttelton Port Company (LPC) workers, it’s a !ght for their livelihoods, their safety, and their community.
e latest attack from LPC management is a restructure plan that eliminates 24 full-time and at least 20 relieving foremen positions, replacing them with new roles on individual agreements outside the union collective.
is is a clear move to de-unionise a critical part of the workforce and weaken our collective strength. As MUNZ Lyttelton Branch President Gerard Loader puts it, the stakes are high.
“ is restructure will remove the foremen who are the last line of defence against tragedy on our wharves,” he says.
ese experienced workers are the guardians of safety in one of New Zealand’s most dangerous workplaces. To remove them is to gamble with workers’ lives.
A Betrayal of Trust and a Crisis of Safety
is aggressive restructure is the culmination of a systematic campaign by LPC management.
is breakdown in trust is happening against the backdrop of a safety crisis. e port of Lyttelton has seen a number of tragedies in recent years. e most recent was Don Grant, who was killed working on a coal vessel in April 2022. His death saw LPC convicted of health and safety breaches and !ned $480,000.
Management response was to engage in blame-shi%ing.
ey used such events to unlawfully impose a mandatory !tness-for-work program, a move the Employment Relations Authority (ERA) struck down in October 2024.
While the recent Employment Court decision in August 2025 has disappointingly cleared the way for the restructure to proceed, it doesn’t change the facts.
e court’s ruling followed an earlier ERA decision in April that found LPC had breached its good faith obligations.
LPC management admitted in court that operating by “minimum legal requirements” is their standard. For workers in a high-risk industry, the bare minimum is not acceptable.
The Poison of Privatisation
is local battle is a (ashpoint in a much larger war over the future of New Zealand’s ports.
e aggressive, anti-union tactics employed by LPC are classic tactics – the same tactics that led to a decade-long industrial con(ict at the Port of Auckland (POAL).
A%er a change of management at POAL and a successful campaign led by MUNZ, Port of Auckland is now a productive and pro!table port, where improved health and safety and union involvement is the norm.
In May 2024, four independent directors of Christchurch City Holdings Ltd (CCHL), the council body that owns the port, resigned en masse.
ey warned the council’s focus on “maximising shortterm dividends at the expense of paying down group debts and investing in the future” made it impossible for them to responsibly govern the city’s strategic assets.
is con!rmed the arguments our unions have been making for years. e council is ‘sweating assets’ to plug its own budget holes, and making it ripe for a sale.
Our Port, Our Choice: The 2025 Election
e future of Lyttelton Port will be decided at the ballot box in the 2025 Christchurch local elections. is election is a clear referendum on public ownership.
Incumbent Mayor Phil Mauger has openly discussed asset sales, and while he denies “rumour” of an imminent LPC sale, his direction is clear. In stark contrast, challenger and centrele% councillor Sara Templeton has explicitly pledged “not to sell strategic assets.”
e choice for Christchurch residents is simple. Do we want a publicly owned port that serves the community, invests in safety, and respects its workforce? Or do we want a privatised port run for o'shore pro!ts, where safety is sacri!ced for dividends and workers’ rights are trampled?
Public opinion is on our side. Recent Talbot Mills polling of Christchurch people carried out by the Campaign for a Democratic Economy shows a clear preference for keeping our city’s infrastructure in public hands. e survey found that:
82% of residents said serving the needs of Christchurch should be the most important outcome of public asset management, compared to just 12% who prioritized maximizing pro!t.
When it comes to public assets, looking a%er worker health was the top priority, with 76% rating it as very important.
Substantial majorities believe local communities (77%) and workers (74%) should have more input into strategy and management.
e !ght continues. With a Parliamentary inquiry now examining the future of our nation’s ports, our struggle in Lyttelton is more important than ever.
We are standing !rm against any attacks on workers and the privatisation agenda that threatens us all. We will !ght on the wharves, in the courts, and at the ballot box to protect our jobs, our safety, and our port.
Last Chance to Vote!
What You Need to Do
!e 2025 local body elections are now underway, and you should have received your voting papers. It is crucial that every eligible MUNZ member uses their vote to make their voice heard.
Voting is open now and closes at midday on Saturday, 11 October 2025.
ese elections determine who will represent you on local councils, port companies, and community boards. e decisions made by these bodies directly impact your daily life, your community, and the maritime industry.
Why Your Vote Is So Important
Your Voice on the Job: Local and regional councils make critical decisions on infrastructure, including the ports we work in. ey also appoint directors to the boards of councilcontrolled port companies.
In uence Real Change: Electing representatives who understand and support the needs of working people and our industry is vital for securing good jobs and safe conditions.
Hold !em Accountable: Your vote is your power. It’s how we hold local leaders accountable and ensure our communities are run for the bene!t of everyone, not just a select few.
Check Your Mailbox: Keep an eye out for your voting pack.
Do Your Research: Take the time to learn about the candidates in your area. Look for those who support workers’ rights, public ownership of our ports, and investment in local infrastructure.
Vote and Post It Back: Fill out your voting paper as soon as you can and post it back in the prepaid envelope. To make sure it arrives in time, you should aim to post it no later than Tuesday, 7 October.
Encourage Your Whanau and Crew: Talk to your family, friends, and colleagues. Make sure they are voting too! A strong turnout ensures our collective voice is heard loud and clear.
Haven’t received your voting papers by the end of September?
You may not be enrolled correctly. You can still cast a special vote.
Check your enrolment details quickly and easily online at vote. nz or by calling 0800 36 76 56. You can also contact your local council’s electoral o cer to arrange a special vote.
Don’t let your vote go to waste – help shape the future of your community and our industry!
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE MAYOR, COUNCILLORS,
AND CANDIDATES OF CHRISTCHURCH
We, the workers of the Port of Lyttelton, have previously called for a clear, public commitment that you will not privatize our port and that you will protect the health and safety of workers. The people of Christchurch stand rmly with us.
Recent polling by Talbot Mills show our community’s views do not align with the current management approach at the port:
• Community First: 82% of Christchurch residents believe serving the needs of the community should be the most important outcome of managing public assets, compared to just 12% who prioritize maximizing pro t.
• Worker Safety is Paramount: When it comes to our assets, 76% of Cantabrians rate looking after worker health as their top priority.
People also want the workers who run our port to have a real say in its future. Seventy-four percent of people believe workers should have more input into strategy and day-to-day management.
A 53% majority favour democratically elected community and worker representatives managing our assets, compared to only 20% who prefer corporate managers.
The current approach has failed. It’s time for a fundamental change at the Port of Lyttelton.
The debate is over. We are not asking for vague assurances. We demand a clear, unambiguous, and public pledge that you will not privatize, divest ownership, or outsource the Port of Lyttelton.
Furthermore, we call on you to commit to restructuring the port’s governance to include elected worker representation on the board.
Stand with your community. Protect all of our infrastructure including our port, guarantee our safety, and give workers a voice at the table.
Authorised by:
Carl Findlay, 220 Willis Street, Wellington
Todd Valster, 1 Thorndon Quay, Wellington
The MMA Vision towing the beached barge Manahau of Carters Beach, Westport, in August 2024
A VISION FOR SAFETY
In the turbulent waters around New Zealand, having a capable emergency response vessel isn’t a luxury – it’s a necessity.
The anchor-handling tug and supply vessel MMA Vision, crewed by skilled Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) seafarers, has now proven its indispensable role.
Since being contracted as an interim emergency ocean response capability, the vessel has demonstrated its worth.
e need for such a vessel was cast into sharp relief in September 2025 when the oil and chemical tanker Golden Mind lost steering and was le% stranded west of Rakiura –Stewart Island.
Battling rough weather and gale-force winds, the MMA Vision sailed from Wellington to reach the disabled tanker. On 16 September, its crew successfully established a towline and began the arduous journey to Timaru, averting a potential environmental and economic disaster.
Maritime NZ’s Rescue Coordination Centre monitored the operation, which was a commercial arrangement between the tanker’s owners and the tug operator.
is incident showcased not just the vessel’s power, but the professionalism of its crew under extreme pressure.
is wasn’t the vessel’s !rst success. !e MMA Vision also played a critical role in the successful re(oating of the barge Manahau a%er it grounded on the West Coast in 2023, pulling it o' the beach and towing it to safety in Tasman Bay.
ese results con!rm the value of having a dedicated, powerful asset on hand.
NEW ZEALAND’S NOTORIOUS WATERS
New Zealand’s notoriously di cult waters, particularly the Cook Strait, have long highlighted the need for a permanent emergency towage vessel.
e tragic 1968 sinking of the Wahine remains a stark reminder of the potential for disaster.
For years, the country has gone without a dedicated ETV a%er the government contract for the tug Sea-Tow 22 was not renewed in 2013.
is le% a critical gap in our ability to respond to maritime emergencies, a concern repeatedly raised by the Maritime Union and industry experts.
In an announcement on 17 April, Minister of Transport Chris Bishop con!rmed an agreement with MMA O'shore to secure the MMA Vision for an interim period until July 2026.
While its primary charter supports o'shore activity in Taranaki, the vessel will be stationed near Wellington Harbour or the Marlborough Sounds when not engaged in that work, providing crucial cover for the Cook Strait.
THE FUTURE
e Government is currently looking at a permanent solution for an enduring emergency response capability.
For MUNZ and its members, as well as all seafarers in our waters, the presence of the MMA Vision is a welcome assurance.
MUNZ National Secretary Carl Findlay emphasizes the human element behind these successful operations.
“Having a vessel like the MMA Vision in our waters, crewed by professional New Zealand seafarers, is essential,” he says.
“ e successful operations on the Golden Mind and Manahau are a direct result of having the right vessel and the right skills available when it matters most.
“Our members are proud to be at the forefront of protecting New Zealand’s coastline, and this vessel allows them to do their job safely and e'ectively.
“We fully support the move towards a permanent, dedicated capability to ensure these skills are retained and our waters remain protected for the long term.”
e MMA Vision is more than just a ship. It’s a critical piece of national infrastructure. It represents a commitment to maritime safety that protects lives, the environment, and the economy.
Its recent work has shown that when crisis strikes, New Zealand has a powerful and professional guardian ready to answer the call.
QUBE FINED OVER “KNOWN AND AVOIDABLE” RISKS
A recent court case has once again cast a spotlight on the inherent dangers of port work and the critical need for robust health and safety measures.
Stevedoring company )ube Ports NZ Limited has been ordered to pay just over $300,000 a%er a worker was seriously injured in a fall, an incident that Maritime NZ has described as a failure to manage “known and avoidable risks.”
e case, which concluded in July 2025, dates back to a 2022 incident aboard the bulk carrier, Daiwan Hero. A stevedore fell approximately six metres while clearing debris from a cargo hold, sustaining multiple leg injuries that required surgery.
Maritime NZ’s investigation revealed that while )ube Ports had safety procedures in place to mitigate the risk of falls from height, these measures were not implemented on the day of the incident.
e company pleaded guilty to a charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 for exposing an individual to a risk of death or serious injury. In his sentencing, Judge Mason highlighted the company’s failure to adhere to its own safety protocols.
THE FIGHT FOR A SAFER WATERFRONT
is case highlights the ongoing struggle for better health and safety on the waterfront.
MUNZ has long advocated for a culture that puts people before productivity. e union has been a key player in the Port Health and Safety Leadership Group, a collaboration that has produced a multi-year action plan for safer ports.
A major outcome of this group’s work is the Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) for loading and unloading cargo, a measure MUNZ has championed for years and believes will be a game-changer in preventing future tragedies.
e MUNZ view is that !nes are not enough of an incentive for change and is calling for a fundamental change in the industry’s approach to safety, with greater worker engagement and a zero-tolerance for preventable accidents.
HISTORIC DOUBLE AT SULPHUR POINT
!e Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) has seen major progress at the Port of Tauranga’s Sulphur Point Terminal, securing landmark collective agreements with both major operators, C3 and Independent Stevedoring Limited (ISL).
e success with C3 marked the return of a MUNZ document to that part of the container terminal for the !rst time in over 20 years.
e negotiations took close to 15 months to resolve and the settlement included pay rises of up to 7 %, availability provisions, and large back payments.
MUNZ has seen a signi!cant increase of over 800% in membership during that time. ese numbers are growing weekly.
The ISL Agreement
Following the successful C3 negotiations, MUNZ reached a settlement with ISL, with members ratifying the new collective agreement in September 2025.
e two-year agreement delivers signi!cant gains for members, including a general pay increase in the !rst year with a further increase in the second.
e agreement's new pay scales deliver substantial increases for all positions, including Team Leaders and Foremen, and establish impressive top rates for fully trained permanent Gantry Crane drivers.
New bene!ts including a night shi% allowance, a boot allowance, and a phone allowance were also secured. e negotiating campaigns have been backed by a surge in union density.
In the past year, MUNZ membership within the straddle operator pool alone has grown from just 4 members to 86. is represents approximately 150 straddle operators employed across both ISL and C3.
Organisers Recognised
e success of the campaigns is a testament to the hard work of local organisers. Special recognition goes to the terminal delegates for their excellent work on recruitment and representation.
MUNZ extends a big thanks to Rata Sidwell, Ray Pullar, Shannon Bunn, and Alisdair Boyd for their strong team skills and dedication.
Shannon Bunn played a particularly important part in organising the crane team. Members also recognised the experienced 24/7 support provided by o cials Graham McKean and lawyer Simon Mitchell.
SHODDY REPAIRS CAUSED NEARGROUNDING
A fully loaded log carrier, the Achilles Bulker, came within a metre of grounding o the coast of Tauranga in July 2023
a&er its rudder completely detached, a report from the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has revealed.
e investigation traced the cause to faulty maintenance, and the incident has prompted calls from MUNZ for tougher regulations on “ships of shame.”
e 177-metre vessel was leaving the Port of Tauranga on 24 July 2023 when it began to veer o' course. As the crew and two pilots on board attempted to regain control, they heard a loud bang, and the ship shuddered violently.
A second, louder bang followed, and the vessel lost all steering. e pilots and crew dropped both anchors and brought the ship to a halt just outside the shipping channel, narrowly averting a major environmental disaster.
A subsequent underwater inspection made a startling discovery, that the ship’s entire 14.2-tonne rudder was missing. It was later found on the seabed.
e TAIC investigation traced the cause of the failure to shoddy repair work carried out during a routine dry-docking in China in 2021.
e report states that the rudder’s pintle, a critical pin that the rudder pivots on, was reinstalled with weak and porous welds. Over time, these welds failed due to normal ship vibrations, causing the pintle to drop out.
Without the pintle’s support, the rudder was subjected to excessive movement and stress, leading to fatigue cracks and, ultimately, its complete separation from the ship.
MUNZ has highlighted the case as an example of the risks posed by “Flag of Convenience” (FOC) vessels. e Achilles Bulker, owned by a Taiwanese corporation, is registered under a Panamanian (ag. FOC ships are linked to lack of regulation, poor safety standards, and crew welfare problems.
MUNZ noted the outcome could have been “catastrophic” in di'erent weather conditions.
e union is continuing its call for more rigorous inspections of international FOC vessels and a renewed focus on building up New Zealand’s domestic coastal (eet to ensure higher safety standards.
e TAIC has made recommendations to the shipyard responsible for the repairs and to Maritime New Zealand to work with the International Maritime Organisation to enhance global standards.
e incident with the Achilles Bulker serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of substandard “ships of shame” and the need to rebuild our New Zealand domestic (eet of high quality ships.
THE MUNZ PLAN FOR THE NZ MARITIME SECTOR
!e Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) has called for a radical redesign of the country’s port system in a detailed submission to a parliamentary inquiry.
Arguing that “pointless competition between ports” is holding the nation back, the union is pushing for a governmentled National Ports Strategy centred on a cooperative “hub and spoke” model.
BACKGROUND OF THE INQUIRY
e submission comes as Parliament’s Transport and Infrastructure Committee conducts a wide-ranging inquiry into New Zealand’s ports and maritime sector.
Launched to examine the “current state of play, challenges, and future opportunities,” the inquiry is a response to growing concerns over supply chain resilience, infrastructure needs, workforce challenges, and environmental sustainability.
Recent years have seen the sector grapple with pandemicrelated disruptions, workplace safety issues, and questions over whether the current competitive structure serves the national interest, prompting a formal review.
POTENTIAL OF COASTAL SHIPPING
A central theme of MUNZ’s submission is the critical importance of revitalising New Zealand’s coastal shipping. e union argues that while the country’s geography is “excellent for moving freight by sea,” this “blue highway” is severely underutilised.
Currently, coastal shipping handles only a small fraction of domestic freight, a situation MUNZ attributes to the “open coast” policy that allows international vessels to carry cargo between New Zealand ports.
is has decimated the local industry, costing jobs and leaving the nation strategically vulnerable. Investing in a domestic (eet would not only create local jobs but also signi!cantly reduce road congestion, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and improve safety.
e submission shows even the current low level of coastal shipping generates $300 million a year in net bene!ts through reduced road congestion and safety incidents alone.
A dedicated coastal (eet is a strategic asset, essential for resilience in national emergencies like the Kaikōura earthquake.
A DYSFUNCTIONAL SYSTEM
MUNZ’s submission portrays the current system as a dysfunctional arrangement where 13 commercial ports are locked in a costly battle for cargo, which ultimately bene!ts large international shipping lines at New Zealand’s expense. e key problems identi!ed include:
• Misallocation of Capital: Regional ports are pressured into expensive investments in dredging and cranes to accommodate massive ships, o%en for contracts that never materialise or are unsustainable.
• Insecurity for Regions: Smaller ports are le% vulnerable to the whims of international shippers who can withdraw services, threatening local economies.
• Wasted Resources: Spreading border sta' across numerous international arrival points is ine cient and increases risk.
THE ‘HUB AND SPOKE’ SOLUTION
As a solution, MUNZ proposes a “hub and spoke” model, common in countries like Japan and South Korea. is model would designate two to four ports as major international “hubs.”
Other regional “spoke” ports would be serviced by a revitalised (eet of New Zealand-crewed coastal vessels, creating an integrated national network. is cooperative framework would reduce the market power of global shipping giants, enable smarter infrastructure planning, and provide more reliable services to the regions.
FIRM STANCE AGAINST PRIVATISATION
e submission strongly warns against privatisation, calling it “wholly incompatible” with a nationally-focused port strategy. MUNZ argues that private operators would prioritise pro!t over the public good, leading to higher costs for businesses, under-investment in infrastructure, and a loss of strategic control.
NEW BILL PUTS SPOTLIGHT ON PORTS
!e Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) is strongly backing the new Local Government (Port Companies Accountability) Amendment Bill, calling it a critical step towards 'xing a disconnected and con ictridden industry.
MUNZ says a lack of oversight has allowed systemic failures to fester, prioritizing short-term pro!ts over worker safety and the national interest.
New Zealand’s publicly-owned ports operate with a hypercompetitive focus that bene!ts global shipping operators over local economies.
A key issue is their exemption from the Local Government O cial Information and Meetings Act (LGOIMA), which shields major decisions from public and worker scrutiny. is lack of transparency has contributed to aggressive restructuring, poor employment relations, and alarming health and safety failures.
e bill, introduced by Labour MP Lemauga Lydia Sosene, provides a direct solution. It would bring port companies under LGOIMA, forcing transparency on decisions related to infrastructure, operations, and safety.
Furthermore, it would require ports to operate as “good employers” and to consider the social, economic, and environmental well-being of their communities. is provides a legal basis for challenging decisions that harm workers, shi%ing the focus from purely commercial returns to a broader set of public values.
MUNZ views this legislation as a building block for our long-term goal of a coordinated national port strategy. A national framework cannot succeed if individual ports remain unaccountable at the local level.
By ensuring transparency to their communities and workforce, the bill creates the foundation for a rational, safer, and coordinated port industry.
Lemauga Lydia Sosene
SINKING THE SHAM:
ISU THREAT ARRIVES IN NZ WATERS
Local 13 Secretary Grant Williams checks in with crew on the Danship Bulker to promote the ITF
!e 'ght for seafarers’ rights has arrived on Aotearoa’s shores, with recent vessel visits in Wellington and Auckland by inspectors from the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ).
ese actions are part of the global “ISU Exposed” campaign, which targets a fake union threatening to undermine wages, conditions, and protections for transport workers.
e Maritime Union of New Zealand is fully supporting the ITF’s drive to “sink the sham and li% standards for every seafarer,” demonstrating that New Zealand’s ports remain ITF ports.
e urgency stems from the threat posed by the International Seafarers’ Union (ISU), which the ITF has exposed as a “sham union” operating with a private company, Lanibra, to exploit seafarers for corporate pro!t.
e ISU is registered in Slovenia, while Lanibra, owned by the same individuals, acts as an agent for shipowners, o'ering to help them “sideline genuine trade unions.”
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
is structure is a blatant con(ict of interest, violating international law (Article 2, ILO Convention 98) and Slovenian national law.
e ISU’s co-founder, Branko Krznaric, is simultaneously the founder and director of Lanibra, cementing the illegal arrangement.
is allows the ISU to sell substandard agreements that degrade working conditions, slash wages, and strip protections.
Compared to legitimate ITF Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), ISU agreements o'er drastically reduced compensation for death or disability and mandate longer working hours.
When seafarers under ISU agreements face a crisis like wage the% or ship abandonment, the ISU is absent. Genuine unions, particularly the ITF inspectorate, must step in to rescue crews and recover stolen wages.
e ITF is clear: the ISU exists for “pro!t, not protection.”
e global campaign pressures shipowners and regulators to terminate these sham agreements and adopt legitimate ITF CBAs.
Vessels with ISU deals face lawful opposition globally, including blockades and boycotts, exposing partner companies to serious legal and !nancial risks.
WELLINGTON: THE STAR ANTWERP
e ISU threat was evident in early August 2025 with the visit of the M/V Star Antwerp to Wellington.
ITF New Zealand Inspector Grahame McLaren visited the vessel, and while the crew he spoke to had no current complaints, the vessel’s Master denied a full inspection.
He cited the vessel’s ISU CBA, stating that allowing an ITF inspector aboard and providing documents would “likely cost him his job.”
is response illustrates the culture of fear imposed by these non-genuine agreements.
AUCKLAND: DANSHIP BULKER
A month later in Auckland, MUNZ Local 13 Secretary Grant Williams inspected the bulk carrier M/V Danship Bulker e ITF is monitoring the vessel’s bene!cial owner, Oaktree Capital Management LP, for potential negotiations with the ISU.
Williams con!rmed the vessel was not covered by an ISU CBA, and the crew he spoke with were satis!ed with their wages and conditions.
He made the MUNZ position clear to the ship’s leadership, stressing the union’s relationship with the ITF and delivering a stern warning that “NZ ports are ITF ports.”
Any engagement with sham unions, he stated, would be viewed as a threat to MUNZ’s ability to defend seafarers. ese visits in Wellington and Auckland prove the global !ght against exploitation is now on our doorstep.
e MUNZ/ITF collaboration is vital to ensuring vessels entering New Zealand waters understand that seafarers’ rights are non-negotiable.
Sham unions will be exposed and resisted at every port in Aotearoa. MUNZ, alongside the ITF, will continue its vigilance to protect legitimate collective bargaining and uphold global maritime standards.
3
Merchant Navy Day 2025
Clockwise from top left: Wellington Service at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park
Auckland Service at New Zealand Maritime Museum
Tauranga Service at the Seafarers’ Moana Chief
September 2025
MARITIME UNION HONOURS PAST SACRIFICES ON MERCHANT NAVY DAY
On 3 September 2025, Merchant Navy Day was observed around the world.
e Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) and veteran seafarers attended memorial services around New Zealand to remember the sacri!ce of wartime seafarers.
Merchant Navy Day marks the anniversary of the sinking of the !rst Allied merchant ship in 1939 at the outbreak of the Second World War. e day pays tribute to the vital lifeline provided by merchant mariners who crewed vessels carrying troops, military equipment, and essential supplies through perilous waters.
“We honour the memory of the thousands of merchant seafarers who never returned to port,” says MUNZ National Secretary Carl Findlay.
“ ese unsung heroes faced unimaginable dangers to keep our country and our allies supplied, and their courage and sacri!ce must never be forgotten. ey crewed the ships that were the backbone of the war e'ort.”
Mr. Findlay cautioned that the lessons of history underscore a critical weakness in New Zealand's modern infrastructure – the decline of its domestic coastal shipping (eet.
“New Zealand is an island nation, dependent on sea freight for our economic survival. But we have allowed New Zealand(agged and crewed ships to be pushed o' our coast through bad policies and short-term greed,” he says.
MUNZ is a vocal advocate for rebuilding the country's shipping capacity, as an overreliance on international vessels leaves New Zealand dangerously exposed.
“For too long, we have outsourced our own supply chain resilience,” Mr. Findlay stated. “A global pandemic, an international con(ict, or a trade dispute could see foreign-(agged ships redirected overnight, leaving our ports isolated, our shelves empty, and our industries crippled.”
MUNZ is calling on the Government and industry to invest in a national strategic (eet to guarantee the movement of essential goods, create skilled maritime jobs for New Zealanders, and enhance national security.
“ e best way to honour the legacy of our past merchant mariners is to ensure New Zealand has a strong, sovereign maritime capability for the future,” says Mr. Findlay.
“On this Merchant Navy Day, we remember their service and recommit to our struggle to secure our nation’s lifeline.”
MUNZ is proudly a member of the Port Health and Safety Leadership Group
ACOP
Approved Code of Practice for loading and unloading cargo at ports and on ships
Education and guidance resources are coming
MUNZ and the Port Health and Safety Leadership Group enthusiastically welcomed the C P when it came into efect late last year. ow, our priority is implementing the C P so that it is widely understood and benefts port workers.
Some of what we are doing is developing education tools and guidance information. The frst topics will be risk management, confned spaces and ha ardous atmospheres.
If you have any questions about ACOP education resources and guidance please email and Team maritimen .govt.n
Find out more here: maritimen .govt.n commercial ports and harbours
Auckland’s Port, Council, and Maritime Union Forge Historic Tripartite Accord
A landmark Tripartite Accord has been formally approved between the Auckland Council, the Port of Auckland Limited, and the Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ), solidifying a collaborative future for one of the city’s most vital assets.
e agreement is a signi!cant achievement in ensuring the port’s long-term sustainability and its continued contribution to Auckland.
e accord, a cornerstone of the “Make the Most of Auckland’s Port and Waterfront” plan, cements the relationship between the three partners, fostering a spirit of good faith, cooperation, and strategic alignment.
is collaborative approach, advanced by Mayor Wayne Brown, is a departure from previous considerations of leasing the port’s operations.
e plan, developed through a collaborative process initiated during the development of the Long-Term Plan 2024-2034, will see the port remain under council ownership, with a projected contribution of $1.1 billion in pro!ts to the Auckland Council over the next decade.
e Maritime Union of New Zealand has played a pivotal role in this achievement, advocating for the rights and wellbeing of port workers while actively participating in the development of the accord.
MUNZ Local 13 Auckland Secretary Grant Williams congratulated Mayor Wayne Brown and the Auckland Councillors for their vision in reaching this historic agreement.
“ is is the right decision going forward, ensuring the Port of Auckland remains under local control contributing to the city’s prosperity and working for the bene!t of our community,” said Williams.
“We look forward to working together to keep Auckland moving.”
e accord, developed by a working group of delegates from all three partners, includes agreed commitments around health and safety, transparency, and collaboration.
It also enables the establishment of a Tripartite Forum to support ongoing conversations, coordination, and joint oversight. is forum will meet regularly, forming working groups to address speci!c issues collectively.
A historic alliance between M(ori iwi and New Zealand’s union movement is set to culminate in a nationwide day of action on October 28, 2025. Dubbed “R ( Whakamana,” this National Day of Solidarity aims to rea rm the selfdetermination of Tangata Whenua and protect the rights and well-being of all workers.
e Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) has thrown its weight behind the event, calling on maritime workers and their families to join mobilizations. is unprecedented movement is co-led by the National Iwi Chairs Forum and the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU) Te Kauae Kaimahi. It signals a new chapter in the !ght for social and economic justice in Aotearoa.
MUNZ Local 13 Secretary Grant Williams is co-chair of Te Rūnanga o ng $ Kaimahi M$ori o Aotearoa, the representative body for M$ori workers whose unions are a liated to the NZCTU.
He highlighted the forward-looking vision of this historic collaboration.
“Together as iwi, as unions, as Tangata Whenua and Tangata Tiriti, we are not just resisting, we are creating a future where tino rangatiratanga is real for everyone and Te Tiriti o Waitangi unites all communities.”
Maritime Union National Secretary Carl Findlay says the !ght for workers’ rights and the !ght for Tiriti justice are intertwined.
“On the waterfront, in our ports, and on our ships, we see every day how the struggle for dignity, safety, and fair pay is the same struggle for all workers.”
Leaders from both the iwi and unions view the current political climate as a direct threat to the welfare of both M$ori and the working class.
“ is Government’s agenda is a direct attack on all working people,” Findlay says, citing the erosion of hard-won rights, the blocking of pay equity for women, and attacks on Te Tiriti o Waitangi as key concerns.
R $ Whakamana is described as a “tikanga-led stand for cultural wellbeing, dignity, workers’ rights, mana w$hine, rangatahi, and tino rangatiratanga.”
e choice of October 28th is deeply symbolic, marking two signi!cant anniversaries in New Zealand’s history. It was on this day in 1835 that He Whakaputanga o te Rangatiratanga o Nu Tireni (the Declaration of Independence of New Zealand) was signed.
e date also commemorates the !rst Labour Day demonstrations in 1890, a pivotal moment in the campaign for an eight-hour workday.
is convergence of historical milestones underscores the shared heritage of struggle and the common cause that unites iwi and unions.
Dr. Kenneth Kennedy, an iwi spokesperson, emphasized the cultural foundation of the event.
“R $ Whakamana is a tikanga-led stand for cultural wellbeing, dignity, workers’ rights, mana w$hine, rangatahi, and tino rangatiratanga, guided by iwi leadership in partnership with the union movement.”
e organizers are calling for mass participation in the lunchtime mobilizations on October 28th, urging all New Zealanders, both Tangata Whenua and Tangata Tiriti, to stand together.
For generations, maritime workers have fought for a fair go. Now, we are proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with iwi to create a future where tino rangatiratanga is real for everyone and Te Tiriti o Waitangi unites all our communities.
Events are planned across the country, and interested individuals are encouraged to visit the website together.org. nz/ra_whakamana for the latest updates and information on how to get involved.
e message from the organizers is clear: a united front is the most powerful tool in the face of adversity, and the bonds of solidarity between iwi and unions have never been stronger.
THOUSANDS
RALLY FOR PAY EQUITY
A powerful call for economic justice echoed across Aotearoa on 20 September 2025, as thousands of people participated in the National Women's Day of Action for Pay Equity. e nationwide event, held just one day a%er the 132nd anniversary of women securing the right to vote in New Zealand, served as a reminder of the long and ongoing struggle for true equality.
From a vibrant march in Auckland to a rally in Wellington, workers across the country united to demand an end to the gender pay gap.
Many attendees wore purple, green, and white, the colours of the Aotearoa su'rage movement, drawing a direct line from the historic !ght for political rights to the modern-day battle for economic freedom.
At the heart of the day's message was a sense of urgency, fueled by recent government changes to pay equity legislation. ese changes will negatively impact over 182,000 workers, a majority of whom are women. But the pay gap is not an accident of history or simply the result of individual biases, it's a core feature of our economic system.
To understand the gender pay gap, we have to look at how our economy is designed.
At its root, a market economy runs on pro!t. e primary way for a business to increase its pro!t is to get the most value out of its workers while paying them the lowest wage possible.
e gender pay gap is one of the most e'ective tools for achieving this.
Here’s how it works:
• Creating a Lower Wage Floor: By systematically undervaluing work done by women, the system creates a massive pool of lower-paid labour. is doesn't just harm women, it keeps wages down for everyone. When employers can pay one group less, it drags down the bargaining power of all workers. is division prevents a united workforce from demanding its fair share of the pro!ts it creates.
• !e Hidden Subsidy of Unpaid Labour: Our economy depends on a hidden subsidy. is is the unpaid work women disproportionately perform in the home. Raising children, caring for sick family members, cooking, and cleaning is the essential work of creating and maintaining the workforce. Businesses get the bene!t of this (a new generation of workers ready to go) without having to pay a cent for the labour it took to produce them.
Because this ‘caring’ work is seen as free in the home, it's treated as less valuable when it becomes a paid job. is is why professions dominated by women, like childcare, nursing, and aged care, are chronically underpaid, despite requiring skill, e'ort, and responsibility. e work is devalued before a wage is even attached to it.
e Women's Day of Action is a challenge to our economic system. e thousands who marched were not just asking for a raise. ey were demanding that the essential work of women, both paid and unpaid, be recognized and valued.
ey were arguing for an economy that serves all people, not just the pursuit of pro!t. e day's events made it clear that for equality to be achieved, our economic system must be transformed.
WIMDOI BIENNIAL CONFERENCE 2026
11–14 May 2026 – Rotorua
WIMDOI provides women working in maledominated occupations and industries with a safe environment to share their stories, enhance skills, build networks and strategies and develop Union power, and are bringing their 2026 biennial conference to Aotearoa!
If you are a woman working in a male-dominated occupation or industry, talk to your union to express your interest in attending, or get in touch:
Annette McCauley MUNZ National Women’s Rep annette_liz@hotmail.com
Rebecca Hauck RMTU National Women’s Rep gunkgirl7@gmail.com
WOMEN RISE UP
BY ANNETTE MCCAULEY
MUNZ NATIONAL WOMEN’S OFFICER LYTTELTON WOMEN’S REP #6092
Firstly, I would like to thank the National O cials for allowing me to attend the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Biennial Conference – Women Rise Up. It was a jam packed two days 'lled of key speakers, workshops, and a pay equity panel.
anks to my local Lyttelton Branch for allowing me to take two other Wahine to represent our branch, and our fundraising committee for helping us get them there. is time round attending the conference was a little di'erent as now being a part of the NZCTU Women’s committee and organisers and I would like to extend my sincerest thanks for them making me feel so welcome.
Our !rst day was !lled with key speakers Hon Jan Tinetti MP, M$ori lawyer Riana Te Ngahi and NZCTU Secretary Melissa Ansell-Bridges.
My highlight from on day one of the guest speakers was Riana Te Ngahue. Some of you that are up with modern technology may have heard of her from the social media platform Tik Tok.
Riana’s media content has covered political commentary on topics related to the Treaty of Waitangi and M$ori perspectives on legislation and more recently the Regulatory Standards Bill. is young Wahine Toa le% an impression on me along with many others in attendance.
It is fair to say that many shy away from hard topics such as legislation due to the complex language that is used however this Wahine broke it down into everyday language for all o' us to understand, and for that among other reasons I am very grateful.
Some of the topics and discussion had and simpli!ed were about the “Beliefs” pushed by Governments and powerful groups that need to be questioned:
Belief 1– “All we need is economic growth”
In real life this means:
• Living standards plummeted with “Trickle Down Economics” leading to stagnation
• Where does economic growth come from anyway?
• Fair pay Agreements being thrown out
• Fast tracking Consenting Act
• Skip safe guards and cut corners
• Overseas investment Act
• Regulatory Standards Bill
Belief 2 – “Regulations are just Hoha, deregulation means economic growth”
In real life this means:
• Repeal of Smoke free laws – harms people
• Health and Safety changes – puts us more at risk
• Regulatory Standards Bill
Belief 3 – “Everyone has the same opportunities – Distract and conquer”
In real life this means:
Examples: Repeal of Oranga Tamariki Act (Section 7AA), theory that all kids are the same and we should be ‘colour blind’
• Justice youth bootcamps
• M$ori health authority undermined
“Kereroha – no one cares what you are even saying”
• “ at’s too smart for me” – so we need to use normal words
• Academic language – meaning can be lost in interpretation
• Keep words short and sweet
• Avoid “switch o' words”
ese were useful tools in ways of breaking down communication barriers in everyday situations. roughout the conference there was the theme Anger, Hope, Action
We have plenty to be angry about.
Since the Coalition government came to o ce in 2023, we have seen the biggest attacks on workers since the 1990s including:
• the repeal of pay equity legislation in May in favour of employers. 33 live claims cancelled, review processes removed, higher thresholds for new claims,
• a ra% of changes to the Employment Relations Act in favour of employers,
• proposed changes to health and safety legislation in favour of employers,
• proposed changes to sick leave, and
• pathetic increases to minimum wage rates during a costof-living crisis, and
• a Regulatory Standards Bill prioritises private pro!t.
Anger
Anger is a powerful emotion. What we do with it is what matters most.
“ !is is one of anger’s most important roles: it is a mode of connection, a way for women to #nd each other and realize that their struggles and their ustrations are shared, that they are not alone, not crazy.”
(Traister, R. (2018). Good and Mad, the revolutionary power of women’s anger. New York: Simon & Schuster.)
We have a responsibility to ensure our next government is committed to supporting all working people in Aotearoa New Zealand.
We know this anger is felt widely and deeply amongst our communities. ese attacks are not fair or just. It is time for us to channel our anger, connect with others and to stand up and !ght back.
Hope
e (ip side of having a government hell bent on making bad choices, is that there are plenty of opportunities to connect, organise, build power and win.
When workers’ rights are under attack we must stand up and !ght back! is must be a one term government and our front line workers must unite to take the lead to put an end to this crazy injustice.
Action
Hon Jan Tinetti’s message to conference was a reminder to ensure we (women) prioritise our needs as we resist the coalition governments’ attacks on women, workers, families and communities and plan for a progressive future.
Chlöe Swarbrick’s message to conference was that, as a movement, we know what solutions are needed.
We need to ensure that that these ideas are developed and socialised to pose a unique and progressive future for Aotearoa. ese actions wind back decades of progressive legislation in all areas of government, and they disproportionately impact women, with M$ori, Paci!c and migrant women bearing the brunt.
We are at a crucial juncture and what we choose to do next, in our unions, in our workplaces, in our homes and communities will shape the future. We must realise that we are stronger together.
A day of action is happening all around the country on 20 September to continue the !ght for Pay Equity amongst other issues, if you can please attend in your local area, I highly recommend that you do.
#Touchonetouchall
GHOST SHIP ADRIFT:
THE SHILING’S
DOUBLE
FAILURE AND THE TRUTH IT EXPOSED
On May 12, 2023, a distress call crackled across the notoriously rough waters of the Tasman Sea. !e Shiling, a 294-metre container ship laden with cargo, was adri&. Its engines were dead.
It was powerless against the churning ocean, a multithousand-tonne steel giant at the mercy of the waves. For the crew and for maritime authorities, it was a terrifying moment. But what made it truly alarming was that this had happened before, less than a month earlier.
WELLINGTON’S CLOSE CALL
e saga began on 15 April, 2023. In the con!ned waters of Wellington Harbour, the Shiling suddenly went dark and silent.
It su'ered a complete loss of power, turning it into an uncontrolled “ghost ship” dri%ing perilously close to grounding near New Zealand’s capital.
Only a swi% response prevented a catastrophic environmental and navigational disaster.
e ship was detained. Repairs were made and checks were signed o'. e Shiling was declared seaworthy and cleared to continue its voyage. But the Mayday call from the Tasman proved that declaration was dangerously wrong.
e vessel was towed back to Wellington on 23 May, where it was detained for nearly two months before !nally departing on 7 July 2023.
e question on everyone’s mind was: how could this happen twice?
INVESTIGATION’S DAMNING VERDICT
e answer came with the release of the Transport Accident Investigation Commission’s (TAIC) !nal report in June 2025.
e !ndings were a indictment not just of one ship’s crew, but of the entire international system that governs maritime safety.
Investigators found the technical cause was not some unforeseeable event.
It was a catastrophic failure of basic maintenance. A cracked cylinder liner and deteriorated rubber diaphragm – components that simply wore out from neglect – were to blame.
e TAIC report had exposed a far more troubling issue, critical safety (aws in the international regulation of ships and the practice of delegating safety certi!cation to third parties.
is is the heart of the matter, according to the Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ), who have been warning about this for years.
e “third parties” are Classi!cation Societies. ese are private companies paid by the shipping owners themselves to inspect their vessels and certify them as safe. is is a classic case of the fox guarding the henhouse.
e Shiling was (ying a foreign ‘Flag of Convenience’ and held safety certi!cates from a certi!er paid by its owner, yet it was demonstrably unsafe in our waters.
is system allows owners to dodge the robust safety standards, labour laws, and tax obligations of countries like New Zealand.
A CALL FOR REAL CHANGE
e Shiling incident was a stark warning of the risks New Zealand faces. In response to the TAIC report, MUNZ has issued an urgent call to action to prevent a future disaster:
• Strengthen Port State Control: Maritime NZ needs the funding and authority to conduct more frequent, intrusive, physical “spot-checks” on vessels, rather than just accepting paperwork from a con(icted certi!er.
• Hold Operators Accountable: If a ship fails an inspection so spectacularly, it must not be allowed to leave a New Zealand port until our own authorities (not its overseas certi!er) are fully satis!ed it is safe.
• Confront the “Flag of Convenience” System: e government must work with international partners to dismantle a broken system that encourages a “race to the bottom” on safety standards and on the wages and conditions for seafarers.
• Support NZ Coastal Shipping: Investing in New Zealand’s own shipping (eet, which operates under higher safety and labour laws, is a clear way to ensure the safety of our coastline.
e case of the Shiling has illuminated a dark and dangerous (aw in the world of international shipping. e question now is whether the warnings from its failures will be heeded before New Zealand has to face a genuine catastrophe.
INTERNATIONAL FIRST NATIONS CONFERENCE
BY FIONA MANSELL WELLINGTON BRANCH SECRETARY
!e Maritime Union of Australia held a major conference of First Nations maritime workers from across Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, Hawaii, Chile, Canada and the United States.
MUA Assistant National Secretary omas Mayo led proceedings and brought together representatives from across the globe.
ere were so many great speakers at this conference, we heard about the history of the unions, the positive impact the union has on First Nations people and overcoming racism in the work place.
We heard from Palestinian workers about the plight of their people in Gaza.
MUA Bosun Vicki Morta was in the thick of it inspiring young and new members to get up and make themselves heard in this important forum.
Youth delegates were “Voluntold” (voluntarily told to do something) to speak of their experiences on the youth panel.
A Women’s panel made up of three indigenous women including myself spoke of the struggles as indigenous women in the workplace.
e First Nations issues worldwide was felt throughout the whole week, and what we all realised is that all our problems are similar with similar consequences.
e history is similar therefore even though we are from di'erent parts of the globe, speaking di'erent languages and having di'erent protocols in our cultures, the thing that was the same was the love, solidarity and unity amongst all of us.
Many thanks to MUNZ for the opportunity to attend this conference. e delegates/o cials’ representing MUNZ were Grant Williams (Local 13 Secretary), Eddie Downs (Local 13 Auckland Executive Member), Annette McCauley (MUNZ National Women’s O cer), and Teresa orpe, rank and !le member aboard the Kaitaki
e Wellington Branch gave Teresa orpe the opportunity to attend her very !rst overseas conference.
I know that Teresa will grow and contribute to our Union from what she has learned from attending.
Finally thanks to the Sydney Branch for hosting this amazing conference, to Paul Keating, omas Mayo, all the sta' and members of the MUA, thank you all so much for your support, solidarity and strength.
Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toiroa – Let us keep close together, not far apart.
Maritime Union and Ports of Auckland Launch Landmark Initiative to Combat Stevedore Fatigue
!e Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) and Port of Auckland Limited have embarked on a journey to develop a world-class Fatigue Risk Management System, aimed at protecting the health and safety of port workers.
Port sta' are engaging in a !ve-day intensive risk assessment workshop facilitated by Chronosafe, a specialist risk management consultancy from Australia.
e process will bring together workers, MUNZ representatives, and management to identify and control fatigue-related hazards in 24/7 port operations.
e initiative comes a%er years of advocacy by MUNZ for systemic change to address the dangers of worker fatigue in New Zealand’s port industry.
MUNZ Local 13 Secretary Grant Williams said this proactive and scienti!c approach was a vital step forward for the industry.
Mr Williams says fatigue is a killer on the waterfront, where workers have been exposed to the risks of cumulative fatigue from long hours and demanding roster patterns.
“ is isn’t box ticking, this is about understanding the science of fatigue and building a system that keeps our people safe.”
“It’s a positive and signi!cant step to see Port of Auckland working with MUNZ on this project. By engaging worldrenowned experts and listening to the workers on the ground, together we can create a system that ensures every stevedore gets home safely to their family at the end of their shi%.”
e workshop began this week with a comprehensive education session from leading fatigue expert, Professor Naomi Rogers-Woodhouse, on the science of human biology, sleep, and circadian rhythms.
is training provides the foundation for the risk assessment group to analyse the unique operational situations and roster designs that contribute to worker fatigue.
e project will use the Port Health and Safety Leadership Group’s Good Practice Guidelines as a framework, with the goal of creating a robust, science-backed system that manages risk and educates workers on the long-term health e'ects of shi% work.
is initiative marks a commitment from both MUNZ and Port of Auckland to lead the industry in creating a safer, healthier, and more sustainable working environment for port workers.
30 YEARS ON: STANDING WITH THE LIVERPOOL DOCKERS
BY MICK WILLIAMS MUNZ VETERANS
!is year marks the 30th anniversary of the Liverpool Dockers’ dispute, one of the most signi'cant labour struggles of the late 20th century. For two and a half years, from September 1995 to January 1998, the Liverpool dockers fought against mass sackings and anti-union laws that sought to break solidarity on the waterfront.
e dispute began when !ve workers employed by Torside Limited were dismissed over an overtime pay disagreement. In a display of unity, their workmates refused to cross the picket line. For this act of solidarity, 80 more were sacked.
e Mersey Docks and Harbour Company then escalated matters further, dismissing 500 of its own dockers for refusing to cross the Torside picket line.
ese sackings were declared illegal under the UK’s restrictive labour legislation — laws designed to weaken unions and criminalise solidarity itself.
A courageous struggle
What followed was a determined and courageous struggle. For 28 long months, the Liverpool dockers stood !rm. ey faced not only unemployment and hardship but also a hostile legal framework and employer intransigence.
Yet they refused to abandon each other, and in doing so inspired trade unionists around the world.
Our own union like all unions around the world stood proudly alongside the dockers throughout their lockout. Here in New Zealand, we hosted visits from Kevin Robinson and Tony Melia, two of the locked-out Liverpool dockers, who spoke to our members about the !ght on the docks.
eir stories of resilience and determination struck a deep chord with us, reminding everyone that workers’ struggles know no borders.
I also had the privilege of travelling to Liverpool during the dispute to deliver a donation and a clear message of solidarity on behalf of our members.
ere I met with the Dockers’ Committee and rank-and!le trade unionists who embodied the true spirit of workingclass unity.
ey were staunch !ghters, but also generous comrades, ready to lend solidarity to others. e Liverpool dockers had a proud tradition of supporting workers in struggle, from the UK miners in 1984–85 to international causes across the globe.
Their !ght continues today
e Liverpool dockers’ stand was about much more than jobs on the waterfront. It was about dignity, justice, and the basic right of workers to defend one another.
It was about refusing to be divided or cowed by unjust laws.
eir !ght continues to resonate today as workers everywhere confront insecure work, anti-union legislation, and employers determined to put pro!t before people.
irty years on, we remain proud to call the Liverpool dockers our comrades and friends.
eir struggle stands as a reminder that solidarity is our greatest weapon.
We honour their courage, we celebrate their legacy, and we rea rm our commitment to the ongoing !ght for workers’ rights — in New Zealand, in Britain, and across the world.
The Charleston Five
BY FIONA MANSELL SECRETARY/TREASURER WELLINGTON BRANCH
Dockworkers from around the world gathered to celebrate these two incredible events in Charleston, South Carolina from 23–27 June 2025. !is was a double 25th Anniversary to remember!
I would like to thank the Maritime Union of New Zealand and National Secretary Carl Findlay for giving me the opportunity to attend this double celebration. ese historic anniversaries brought in over 300 delegates from Ports across the globe, united in their shared mission to defend labour rights and promote global solidarity. e week started o' with tributes to the Charleston Five: A Legacy of Resistance and Unity.
Five dock workers from ILA (International Longshoremen’s Association) Local 1422 were arrested and prosecuted in 2000 for standing up to anti-union practices of the Port of Charleston.
What began as a local con(ict became a global rallying cry for the defence of worker’s rights.
e Charleston !ve are Kenneth Je'erson, Elijah Ford Jr., Peter Washington, Richy Simmons and Jason Edgerton. ey were arrested and later indicted on felony charges all because they had courage and the audacity to demand fair treatment and protect union labour.
Dennis A. Daggett, Executive Vice President of the ILA and General Coordinator of the IDC, led a group of speakers who honoured, remembered and re(ected on this historic event.
Dennis highlighted that the struggles were not born out of con(ict but of courage.
He also acknowledged the perseverance and determination of the leader of ILA Local 1422 in Charleston, President Kenneth Riley.
ank God for Kenny Riley, Daggett said. “Kenny didn’t blink; he didn’t back down.”
While the power structures of this country tried to isolate those !ve men, Kenny went around and built a coalition that was impossible to ignore.
From dock workers in Europe to South America, Australia, and the other US waterfront union the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), the call for justice rang out from Charleston and echoed around the globe. at spirit, that unwavering resolve to protect one another is what de!nes them today.
As we marked the 25th anniversary of a global movement for dockworker’s rights, it’s not just a celebration of history, it’s a rea rmation of purpose.
Over the past quarter century, port labour has faced relentless pressure from automation, subcontracting, digitalization and climate disruption.
ese forces are reshaping the maritime world. Yet through unity and determination, dockworkers continue to prove that progress must not come at the expense of dignity, security or human presence on the docks.
I am super grateful to have had the opportunity to attend both these events, to hear of the struggles and challenges the IDC, ILA and other unions are facing.
What I learned is that nothing in this industry is a given, it is hard fought for, everything must be won.
A FUTURE WORTH FIGHTING FOR!
MUNZ Forges New Generation of Leaders with Historic Delegate Training
The Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) has successfully launched a training initiative for its union delegates, held at the Local 13 headquarters at Okahu Bay Sports Club in Auckland.
The event marks a signifcant step in the union’s strategy to empower its next generation of leaders from the ground up.
The intensive two-day course was developed and delivered in partnership with Marlon Drake and his team from community campaigners Te Ohu Whakawhanaunga.
MUNZ Delegates from across the North Island, including Marsden, Auckland, Tauranga Mount Maunganui, and Wellington, attended the inaugural session.
The training focused on core principles such as class consciousness, understanding worker power, and practical tools for delegates on the job.
MUNZ National Secretary Carl Findlay says the event was a “defning moment” for the organization.
The program is designed to strengthen the union at the coalface but also to prepare delegates for future leadership roles in union governance, community boards, and local politics.
Following the success of this historic frst event, MUNZ plans to roll out similar training sessions in other parts of the country later this year.
This page
Top left: MUNZ Lyttelton Branch Local 43 attending the National Day of Action, 1 May 2025
Above left: Local 13 Secretary Grant WIlliams with longstanding and loyal Local 13 member Kevin Bretts
Above right: Maritime ferry delegation attends Beehive meeting, 3 April 2025, from left Kevin Judkins of the Merchant Services Guild, Carl Findlay of the Maritime Union of New Zealand, Minister of Rail Hon Winston Peters and Todd Valster of the Rail and Maritime Transport Union
Right page
Top: Port Chalmers stopwork meeting, May 2025
Middle: Mick Williams leads the chant at Wellington Railway Station rally with KR, Bluebridge, Centreport and C3 members rallying for Our Ferries Our Future, December 2024
Bottom: Fight Back Together, Maranga Ake, Auckland, 1 May 2025
REVIVING THE BLUEWATER HIGHWAY
BY MICK WILLIAMS MARITIME UNION OF NEW ZEALAND VETERANS
As a long-time retired seafarer, o cial, unionist, and advocate for maritime industry I o er this article in the hope it contributes to some meaningful discussion.
New Zealand’s freight network is under serious strain. Our roads are overcrowded and costly to maintain, while emissions from diesel-powered trucks continue to climb. With growing freight volumes and ageing rail infrastructure (especially across Cook Strait), we face an urgent need to rethink how we move goods around the country.
One solution is right in front of us: coastal shipping. e so-called “Bluewater Highway” once played a key role in our national transport system. It’s time to bring it back.
Coastal shipping emits up to 80% less CO, per tonnekilometre than road freight, according to the Ministry of Transport. It is also safer, more cost-e'ective, and signi!cantly reduces wear and tear on our national road network.
As climate-related disasters become more frequent, sea transport adds much-needed resilience, staying operational when roads and rail lines are damaged or closed.
During Cyclone Gabrielle in 2023, for example, access to parts of the East Coast was cut o' for weeks. While trucks and trains were halted, sea routes kept supplies (owing. at’s a wake-up call.
Our reliance on trucks continues to grow, partly because the Interislander rail ferry capacity has been reduced. With one or two ageing rail ferries retired, no freight is moving across Cook Strait by train, putting even more pressure on roads. is isn’t just an infrastructure problem, it’s a warning sign.
Reviving coastal shipping isn’t just about e ciency or climate goals. It’s also an opportunity to support regional ports and create skilled maritime jobs for New Zealanders. Ports like Timaru, Blu', Whanganui, and Westport could become key local freight hubs, strengthening regional economies and reducing urban congestion.
But to make this work, we must commit to building a domestically crewed coastal (eet. New Zealand has a proud maritime tradition. By training and employing local seafarers, we ensure national control over a critical supply chain while keeping the economic bene!ts here at home, not in overseas labour markets.
What’s missing is policy leadership. While road and rail enjoy consistent public investment and planning, coastal shipping is o%en le% out of national transport strategies. at has to change. e sector needs infrastructure investment, regulatory fairness, and long-term policy support.
Reviving the Bluewater Highway isn’t just a nice idea, it’s a necessity. For climate, safety, resilience, and national economic strength, coastal shipping must be recognised as a core part of New Zealand’s transport future.
Let’s stop leaving our ships – and our seafarers – on shore.
NAVIGATING PACIFIC TENSIONS: A QUESTION OF FUEL SECURITY
BY PETER HARVEY TAURANGA MOANA LOCAL13
It has been interesting, to say the least, to watch the recent manoeuvres of various Asia/Paci'c countries in the Paci'c Ocean region earlier this year.
China and the Cook Islands have recently signed a cooperation agreement that apparently incorporates maritime matters.
At about the same time, the Chinese Navy appeared in the Paci!c area, conducting training exercises so extensive that some commercial airline (ights to New Zealand had to divert their (ight paths.
en, Christopher Luxon announced that the Coalition Government will begin deliberations on whether to build a new oil re!nery here.
With the closure of the Marsden Point oil re!nery and the loss of the New Zealand coastal tanker (eet, we are now almost totally reliant on foreign-sourced fuel supplies.
We depend on a constant, uninterrupted stream of small to medium-sized tanker ships, which are able to !t into our ports, to bring in most of our fuel.
Many of these ships travel down from Asian countries, across the Paci!c, to New Zealand.
As a small island nation thousands of miles away from our oil suppliers, we rely heavily on a stable and peaceful international scene for an uninterrupted supply of fuel.
ings may continue to be !ne, and we may not have any problems with our fuel supply – but then again, we might.
Regardless of how things play out, it is a precarious position for our country to be in when it comes to ensuring the safe supply of fuel and the security of our people.
Global Solidarity on the High Seas for Palestine
In a powerful display of working-class internationalism, the global trade union movement is rallying behind a historic humanitarian mission to Gaza, with maritime workers and dockers at the forefront.
On September 5, 2025, the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) announced that )ueensland seafarer and MUA member, Hamish Paterson, will join the Global Sumud Flotilla, an unprecedented international civilian (eet sailing to challenge the illegal blockade and deliver life-saving aid to the people of Gaza.
is action is not an isolated event but a re(ection of a deeply held commitment to justice shared by transport and general unions across the world, including the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), the International Dockworkers Council (IDC), and the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU).
Paterson is a key member of the eight-strong Australian and New Zealand delegation, which also includes frontline activist and !lmmaker Juliet Lamont and her daughters, Isla and Luca.
ey will join a (eet of vessels from 44 countries.
“As a long-term member of the MUA and the trade union movement, I see this as a continuation of our proud tradition of international solidarity and peace,” Paterson says. “If ordinary civilians can deliver aid, there is no excuse for governments to remain inactive while genocide continues.”
MUA Deputy National Secretary Warren Smith says the union has an unwavering history of standing with the oppressed.
“We have always stood against war, famine, injustice and apartheid. e war and siege of Gaza is an appalling and unbearable situation which workers and their unions, through global activism, must stand up to,” Smith says.
e MUA’s stance is ampli!ed on the global stage by the ITF and IDC, of which the MUA and the Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) are proud a liates.
e ITF has repeatedly called for an immediate and permanent cease!re and unimpeded humanitarian access. e IDC has gone further, calling on dockworkers worldwide to refuse to handle military cargo destined for Israel, turning ports into “ports for peace.”
is call to action has been answered with resounding force across Europe. In a coordinated wave of industrial action, dockworkers have demonstrated their power to disrupt the logistics of war.
In Spain, the port workers of Barcelona have pledged to refuse handling any military material. In France, their comrades in Marseille have blocked arms components bound for Israel.
Most recently, a general strike on September 22, led by the Unione Sindacale di Base (USB), saw Italian dockworkers shut down major ports like Genoa and Livorno, vowing that not “a single nail” would leave for Israel if the (otilla is impeded.
ese actions, alongside similar e'orts by Belgian and Swedish unions, are a practical and direct application of labour power in the name of peace.
is international solidarity !nds a strong voice here in Aotearoa. e New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU) has been resolute in its support for Palestine, condemning the violence, calling for government action to ensure a cease!re, and supporting its a liates in taking collective action.
e Global Sumud Flotilla demonstrates that when governments fail, the workers of the world, from seafarers on the ships to dockers on the wharves, can unite to steer a course towards justice.
To support the Flotilla, you can contribute at: https://chu ed.org/project/global-sumud- otilla.
Queensland seafarer and MUA member Hamish Paterson and flmmaker Juliet Lamont are part of the Global Sumud Flotilla
Wellington Relay for Life
For the 'rst time, the Wellington Branch entered a team of 15 participants for this year's Wellington Relay for Life over 5–6 April.
e team started at 1500 on Saturday 5 April and took turns to walk or run the track throughout the day/night, completing the last lap at 0800 the following morning.
It was an amazing and inspiring event to be part of. is year's event collectively raised over $900,000, with the Wellington Branch alone raising just over $3000 for cancer survivors and their families. We rounded out the Relay by winning the “Best Decorated Booth”.
We would like to express our heartfelt thanks for all the support and generous donations to our fundraising e'orts.
We hope to grow both our team numbers and our fundraising e'orts for the next one, if you are keen to join keep an eye out early next year for more details.
Our MUNZ members who were part of the winning Lyttelton Premier Reserve team. The team only lost one game all year and were crowned Grand Champions at the Final held at the Lyttelton Rugby Ground on Saturday 26 July 2025. From left, John Fisher (Manager), Ants Horan (Head Coach), Mahaki Koopu (Player), Leon Lumb (Player), Maui Koopu (Player), Jordan Paulsen (Player), Travis Johns (Player), Joseph Forster (Player)
ILWU members at the Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL) Vehicle Processing Center in the Port of Tacoma, WA, USA, celebrate securing their frst Union contract, with the support of maritime and transport unions around the world.
A heritage of struggle: Peter Harvey sent in this photo from the Nelson Mail “about thirty years ago” featuring the crew of the Kuaka – the battle for New Zealand shipping goes on
Happy International Day of the Seafarer 25 June to the hardworking crew of MT Kokako, who celebrated with a chocolate cake courtesy of The Mission to Seafarers Wellington
UN Set to Vote on Ending US Blockade Against Cuba
!e United Nations General Assembly began debating a resolution on Wednesday aimed at ending the longstanding “economic, commercial, and 'nancial embargo” imposed on Cuba by the United States.
As in previous years, the assembly is expected to overwhelmingly vote in favour of the resolution to li% the sanctions.
Cuba has presented similar resolutions for decades, each time receiving overwhelming support from the international community. e sanctions were !rst imposed on the Caribbean island by the US more than 60 years ago, a move widely regarded as a violation of international law.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has condemned the policy, stating, “Cuba will not give up its !ght against the blockade because it is illegal, unjust, and inhumane. It also constitutes a shame for the world and threatens the development of Cuba. It also goes against the spirit of the UN charter.”
e debate has highlighted the depth of global support for Cuba. Speakers from across the globe described the sanctions as “pernicious and cruel,” deadly in their impact, and an “assault on all Cubans.”
e consensus re(ects a united call for the US to end what many describe as an anachronistic, Cold War-era policy.
From left: MUNZ Veterans Barry Millington, Mick Williams and Ambassador for the Republic of Cuba, Luis Morejon Rodriguez
WAVES OF DISSENT: NZ SEAFARERS AND THE VIETNAM WAR
BY MICK WILLIAMS MARITIME UNION OF NEW ZEALAND VETERANS
Fi& y years ago, members of the New Zealand Seamen’s Union took a courageous and principled stand against the Vietnam War.
As early as 1965, visionary leaders like Pincher Martin and Les Barber challenged Prime Minister Keith Holyoake, calling for peace and urging United Nations intervention instead of military involvement.
e union leadership mobilised support. Seamen joined nationwide marches, helped fund events such as the 1968 Peace, Power and Politics Conference, and published anti-war content in the Seamen’s Journal.
ey also backed humanitarian e'orts, contributing to New Zealand’s Medical Aid Unit in Vietnam through voluntary levies. One of their most de!ning acts of resistance occurred in Wellington, where seamen refused to crew tugs for the visiting warship USS America.
is protest was so e'ective that the warship was ultimately banned from future New Zealand port visits.Dedicated activists like Joe Pierce, Bill Trueman, Tommy Heptinstall, and Ned Nicoll continued to demonstrate throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s.
e legacy of the Seamen’s Union stands as a powerful reminder of what solidarity can achieve, !ghting not only for fair wages but for a fairer, more peaceful world.
AUCKLAND OLD TIMERS FUNCTION
!e Auckland Tamaki Makaurau, Local 13, Christmas and Oldtimers Function will be held in the 'rst week of December.
All past and present members welcome, we look forward to catching up with everyone and celebrating what has been a very successful year.
What: Local 13, Christmas and Oldtimers Function When: Friday 5th December 2025 noon-6pm Where: Okahu Bay Sports & Recreation Club
If you have any questions about these events or regarding Local13 please email us at local13@munz.org.nz
In solidarity, Grant Williams, Secretary Maritime Union of New Zealand Local13
Obituary
Vale Tommy Curphey
It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Tommy Curphey, a lifelong Communist and trade unionist. Tommy passed away in Newcastle, New South Wales.
He was the former Auckland Secretary of the New Zealand Seamen’s Union (NZSU) and a dedicated ofcial of the Newcastle Seamen’s Union of Australia (SUA). Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends, comrades, and all who were touched by his work.
Tommy’s contributions shaped the history of maritime unions in both New Zealand and Australia. As the NZSU Auckland Secretary, he was a central fgure in transforming the union into a coordinated and militant national force under the leadership of Bill Martin.
Through long campaigns against hostile governments and exploitative shipowners, his tireless eforts were instrumental in several key victories, including:
Establishing the state-owned New Zealand Shipping Corporation.
Setting up the Pension Fund.
Winning the crucial fght for equal time on and of work.
After relocating to Newcastle, Tommy continued his steadfast support for the NZSU and the wider New Zealand trade union struggle. Alongside his close friends Bill Andersen and Bill Martin, he organised trans-Tasman socialist seminars.
Their work through the Workers’ Institute for Scientifc-Socialist Education (WISSE) and the St George Basin Union School left a lasting mark on the union movement.
Tommy was a man of principle, known for his wisdom, patience, and discipline. He was deeply committed to education and mentorship, and his life’s work continues to inspire new generations of trade unionists and socialists. He fought for a fairer society, one free from poverty, racism, and war.
His 1966 advice to union delegates on the importance of responsibility, communication, and meeting protocols still guides union work today.
Rest in peace, Tommy Curphey. You have made your mark in our proud history, and your contributions will never be forgotten.
Fair winds and following seas.
Mick Williams
MUNZ Veterans Secretary, Wellington Region
The New Zealand Seamen’s Union National Council meeting in Wellington in February 1967. Fraternal relations with Australian seamen were shown by the presence of the secretary of the Seamen’s Union of Australia, E. V. Elliott.
From left, back row: Tom Kelly, Les Barber, Hugh MacRae, Joe Briggs, Terry Adams, Doug Morton; Front row: Tommy Curphey, Eliot V. Elliott, Bill Martin, George MacLeod.
Tommy Curphey marks the fftieth anniversary of the NZ 1951 waterfront lockout in 2001 with his best mate Bill Andersen. From the late 1990s, the two organized trans Tasman socialist seminars through the Workers’ Institute for Scientifc-Socialist Education (WISSE).
