Directors beware: Lessons from landmark Ports of Auckland case

The recent prosecution of former Ports of Auckland chief executive Tony Gibson has put the spotlight squarely on the due diligence duty of officers under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. Gibson was an officer under the act (HSWA) because his position as chief executive allowed him to exercise significant influence over management of the port. As an officer, Gibson was required to take appropriate and proactive steps to ensure that the port complied with its health and safety obligations.As one of New Zealand's most high-profile...