Maritime NZ charge KiwiRail over Kaitaki incident

The Kaitaki lost power in all four engines last January with more than 800 passengers onboard. (Image: D McLean)

Thu, 18 Jan 2024

After a year-long investigation, regulator Maritime New Zealand has filed a health and safety charge against KiwiRail over an incident where an Interslander ferry lost power during a Cook Strait crossing.The Kaitaki, carrying more than 800 passengers at the time, lost power in all four engines and issued a mayday call as it approached Wellington Harbour on Jan 28 last year.The incident highlighted the condition of the ageing Interislander fleet, which has suffered a number of technical mishaps in recent years and which the state-owned rail and...

Subscribe to BusinessDesk

Stay informed on business, government and financial developments across New Zealand.

Deeply researched, twice-edited and fact-checked news
Annual subscribers also receive a complimentary subscription to The Wall Street Journal
Personalised email news alerts, plus gift up to 5 stories a month to non-subscribers

You can cancel anytime with two clicks, an email or a phone call.
Find out more.

We are serious about journalism.

Already a Subscriber ? Sign in here.

Name {{ registerForm.errors.get('name') }}

Email address {{ registerForm.errors.get('email') }}

Phone Number {{ registerForm.errors.get('phone') }}

Job Title {{ registerForm.errors.get('title') }}

Password Minimum password length of 8 characters.
Require at least one upper and lowercase, numeric, and special character. {{ registerForm.errors.get('password') }}

Repeat password {{ registerForm.errors.get('password_confirmation') }}

We had trouble validating your card. It's possible your card provider is preventing us from charging the card. Please contact your card provider or customer support.

Credit Card

Cardholder's name

{{ __(plans[index].name) | capitalize }} {{ plans[index].attributes.old_price | currency }} {{ plans[index].price | currency }}

All subscriptions auto renew but are easy to cancel.

I Accept The Terms Of Service

{{ registerForm.errors.get('terms') }}

Tax: {{ taxAmount(selectedPlan) | currency }}

Total Price Including Tax: {{ priceWithTax(selectedPlan) | currency }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerSeat ? '/ '+ spark.seatName : '' }} {{ selectedPlan.type == 'user' && spark.chargesUsersPerTeam ? '/ '+ __('teams.team') : '' }} / {{ __(selectedPlan.interval) | capitalize }}

The Quiz Free

QuiznessDesk, Wednesday, Sept 10

Think you're clever enough?

The Quizmaster 9:15am

Climate change

NZ should welcome Chinese cleantech expertise: Lord Turner

The election of Donald Trump meant a ‘wrenching change’ in US climate policy.

Greg Hurrell 5:00am

NZ should welcome Chinese cleantech expertise: Lord Turner

Energy

Watts to challenge gentailers on 2026 'energy security'

Minister for Energy Simon Watts spoke at the Climate Change & Business Conference.

Pattrick Smellie 5:00am

Watts to challenge gentailers on 2026 'energy security'

Sponsored

Free AI training blitz targets 10,000 Kiwis

Workshops aim to close NZ’s AI skills gap and boost productivity – no tech skills required.

Sponsored by Lumify

Sponsored

Are employers doing enough to prepare workers to retire well?

When one third of the New Zealand workforce is aged 55 or older – are employers doing enough to help them prepare for retirement?

Moneyfit

More Infrastructure

Infrastructure

Transpower to spend $1.1b on Cook Strait link upgrade

Transpower plans to spend $1.1 billion on upgrading the electricity link between the North and South Islands.The state-owned power grid operator said it had applied to the Commerce Commission for approval to invest in the High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) link.The proposal inclu...

Staff reporters 09 Sep 2025