Port health and safety overview
This gave us the legal mandate and additional resourcing to:
- take a wider view of how port‑based businesses manage risks
- understand how businesses are developing and using their safety systems
- look at how businesses engage with workers on health and safety.
This approach will improve our insight into how port businesses operate and will help us bring consistency to:
- training approaches and standards
- information‑sharing practices
- traffic‑management and fatigue‑management plans
- reporting and other core safety practices.
It will also support a targeted harm‑prevention approach to:
- improve safety culture
- embed new health and safety practices
- work more effectively with and regulate port‑based businesses
- reduce harm to people working on ships and on ports.
Approved Code of Practice for loading and unloading cargo at ports and on ships
The Approved Code of Practice for loading and unloading cargo at ports and on ships (the ACOP) was developed with the Port Health and Safety Leadership Group, through industry and union workshops and using industry good practice.
It outlines how persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) can comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSWA) and HSWA Regulations, and to reduce the number of serious injuries, illnesses and fatalities among workers who carry out the work of loading and unloading cargo at ports and on ships in New Zealand.
The ACOP came into effect on 29 November 2024.
Other education and guidance resources for working safely on ports
Access education and guidance resources developed by Maritime NZ with the port sector, and endorsed by the PHSLG, to support better health and safety outcomes.
Other information on health and safety for the maritime sector
In addition to the resources for ports you can access through this page, Maritime NZ also provides cross-cutting guidance for the whole maritime sector about health and safety.
This material includes information on worker engagement, participation, and representation (WEPR) for the maritime sector, and endorsed by the PHSLG, to support better health and safety outcomes.
Look out for our staff on ports
Our dedicated HSWA team has specialists based in five locations:
- Auckland
- Tauranga
- Napier
- Nelson
- Christchurch.
The team works alongside our maritime officers, maritime inspectors, and investigations teams, building on our existing HSWA capability.
Investigation insights and maritime updates
Investigation insights and maritime updates provide practical information that crew, skippers and operators can use to keep people, property and the marine environment safe.
Maritime NZ's regulatory approach
Find information about Maritime NZ's regulatory approach including our operational policies and position statements.
Position statements relevant to port operations
Position statements explain how Maritime NZ will apply key aspects of legislation and rules in accordance with our regulatory approach.