Speech to Maritime New Zealand staff conference

Good morning and thank you for inviting me to address your annual conference again this year

Today I’d like to thank you for the work you have been doing over the last year, and recognise the success you’ve achieved.

First though I want to personally acknowledge those who have been affected by the devastating Christchurch earthquake.

A couple of weeks ago I took a helicopter ride over Lyttleton and saw some of the damage there. Thankfully the port is still largely operational, and it was great to see the HMNZS Canterbury there unloading supplies.

The quake was that strong that it lifted the two 1400 tonne port cranes off the ground and out of their rails.

The Maritime New Zealand building was destroyed, and a staff member had a lucky escape. I understand he was trapped in the building until an aftershock cleared a path for him to escape.

Despite all of this, Maritime New Zealand has continued its work and helped the transport sector keep functioning at a time when we really need it. 

Thank you on the behalf of the Government for all your hard work.

Importance to New Zealand

Last year when I spoke to your conference I mentioned how important the maritime sector is to New Zealand, and our economy. It’s worth reminding ourselves again.

As an island nation, around 99 percent of our exports and imports are carried by ship.

Our biggest export earner is tourism, of which a major part is visiting cruise ships and adventure tourism.

Economically, we are dependent on the sea. We rely on competitive shipping services, sea ports and their connections with land transport to make a living in the world.

The point I’m making is that much of New Zealand’s prosperity now and in the future depends on the maritime sector and the work you do at Maritime New Zealand.

And of course, there is the impact on society. Recreational boating is a national pastime, and the work you are doing on reducing accidents and improving safety is hugely important.

Changes at MNZ

Maritime New Zealand is a relatively small organisation with a broad range of functions.  You’ve undergone some major changes in the past three years, focussed on addressing areas of major risk. 

There has been an increasing focus on the need to operate within your mandate and roles, improving service delivery, while at the same time delivering major changes to important maritime rules and regulations.

I’m also very aware of the pressures you have been under. Inevitably there will always be tensions between regulators and the regulated, and there has been plenty of media scrutiny.

It’s been a heavy workload, and I appreciate the good work Maritime New Zealand has done over the past year. Thank you.

QOL and MOSS Reviews

Two major programmes of work have been the reviews of the Qualifications and Operational Limits framework (QOL), and the Maritime Operator Safety System (MOSS).

Both reviews are wide-ranging with major implications for both industry and for Maritime New Zealand.  Good progress has been made and I’m pleased we are on track to deliver on both projects.

The QOL review is one of the most significant projects ever undertaken by Maritime New Zealand.

This will reduce barriers to entry and provide logical career pathways, removing some of the frustrations currently faced by those working in the commercial maritime industry. 

At the same time it will maintain quality and qualifications, which is the priority.

The framework has been built on comprehensive information gathered from in-depth discussions with community and industry representatives. 

Working in partnership with industry will be the key to this new system. It will mean good safety standards for vessels and their crews while meeting the needs of New Zealand’s commercial maritime industry, now and into the future.

Thank you to everyone involved in the consultation process and I’m looking forward to see the draft QOL framework later this year.

MOSS

Meanwhile, the other big priority for Maritime New Zealand is the proposed changes to the Safe Ship Management System.

Once again, thank you for working closely with industry on this review.

I’m aware there is broad support for change.  The new rules will see a greater emphasis on industry support and make it easier for operators and Maritime New Zealand staff to support safe vessels and safe operating practices.

I understand the Maritime Operator Safety System (MOSS) project is working towards having the new rules in place late this year. I’m sure there will be some busy months ahead preparing, and working to make this a success.

Thank you again for conducting an honest and open consultation process. This is a valuable project with the important goals of improving safety outcomes, cutting red tape, and reducing compliance costs for the industry.

Funding Review

Finally, value for money in delivering government services has been a major priority for this Government. You’ve probably heard the figure of $300 million, which is what the Government borrows every week just to pay the bills.

Clearly, the Christchurch earthquake is also going to have a major affect on the public finances.

It’s more important than ever that we deliver good value on behalf of taxpayers and industry groups.

Regular reviews of public sector agencies are an important part of the process of ensuring services are delivered efficiently and cost effectively.

Last year’s Value for Money Review found that Maritime New Zealand is meeting the government’s expectation of providing value for money. It also identified opportunities to ensure that the right services continue to be delivered in the right place at the right cost.

The Funding Review of Maritime New Zealand currently underway was a key recommendation of last year’s Value for Money Review. 

Following the data gathering process a discussion document will be released for public and sector consultation toward the end of this year.

While it is too early to say what changes might result, the review will ensure Maritime New Zealand is properly funded for everything it does.

Conclusion

I appreciate that with all these big projects, people have a lot on their plate.

Thank you again for your hard work, commitment and professionalism.

You have another big year ahead and an exciting future. 

Thank you.