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

Rail Derailment report - Rules don’t keep overstretched workers safe

The lesson for all high-risk work sites: don’t rely on procedures alone; physical protections are essential.
TAIC recommends that KiwiRail:
• Improve authorisation for rail movements
• Require physical protections for removed track
• Ensure staffing levels and support for critical roles

Font-end view of the tamper machine. Railway tracks are nowhere to be seen as it has run over the end of the tracks. The tamper's front wheels are out of sight, buried in the gravel ballast. Its front w

Rail RO-2023-105: Derailment of Tamper 703, Purewa tunnel, Auckland, 9 October 2023

, Inquiry Status: Closed

A track machine derailed in Auckland’s Purewa tunnel after being authorised to enter a worksite where track had been removed. Key safety information wasn’t shared and staff were under-resourced. No one hurt, but lead machine was heavily damaged. Three TAIC recommendations to KiwiRail: verify track…

Aerial view of the Japanese longline fishing vessel Chokyo Maru aground on rocks near a steep coastline, with a harbour tug made fast to the vessel’s stern via a tow line. The tug is manoeuvring to refloat or reposition the grounded vessel. A group of support craft is visible in pontoon at anchor in deeper water some 60m off the starboard bow of the grounded vessel. The surrounding area features submerged hazards and clear turquoise water, indicating shallow depths and rocky outcrops

Marine TAIC reports on a failure of basic seamanship

Grounding near Auckland: new TAIC report reminds us why the basics always matter. This is a real-world case study and useful training material for what can go wrong when safety critical staff overlook the basics.

Aerial shot of the Chokyo Maru 68, a 48-metre fishing vessel, after the accident. A line is attached to the stern of the vessel, under tension from a tug. 10-20m off the Chokyo Maru's port beam are prominent coastal rocks both above and below the water surface. Perhaps 80-100m off the Chokyo Maru's starboard bow, three smaller vessels sit in pontoon at anchor.

Marine MO-2024-203: Fishing vessel, Chokyu Maru No.68, grounding, Hauraki Gulf, 16 April 2024

, Inquiry Status: Closed

A grounding where too much went wrong. TAIC’s new #marinesafety report is a reminder of what happens when staff in safety-critical jobs skip the fundamentals.
The Chokyu Maru No.68 ran aground near Auckland in…

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

Aviation TAIC reports on likely near collision of drone and passenger jet

A drone likely came close to an passenger jet on approach to a major NZ airport, the drone being in breach of NZ civil aviation rules. TAIC recommends drone registration, remote ID, and geo-fencing, calls on Ministry of…

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

Marine Substandard ships should be banned from New Zealand

Deferred maintenance is a risk in itself. It’s virtually certain the container ship Shiling was unseaworthy when in NZ, despite holding valid certificates. Shiling twice needed to be rescued and towed. TAIC identifies…

Shiling after the second incident - photo Nelson Marlborough rescue helicopter

Marine MO-2023-203: Container vessel, Shiling, Loss of control Wellington harbour, 15 April 2023

, Inquiry Status: Closed

TAIC recommends law change to ban substandard ships from NZ. Commission’s final report on container ship Shiling finds the ship twice needed to be rescued and towed back to port in 2023, due to deferred maintenance. The…

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

TAIC reports on Boeing 777 veering off runway

TAIC reports on Boeing 777 passenger jet veering off runway: heavy rain contributed to late transition from autopilot to manual control. The report has lessons for all aircraft operators: ensure crews know and…

A Boeing 777 passenger plane with landing gear down. File photo.

Aviation AO-2023-003: Runway excursion (veer-off), Boeing 777-319ER, ZK-OKN, Auckland International Airport, 27 January 2023

, Inquiry Status: Closed

TAIC report on Boeing 777 passenger jet veering off runway: heavy rain contributed to late transition from autopilot to manual control.

Lessons for all aircraft operators: ensure crews know and understand…