Speech to Maritime New Zealand staff conference 2010

Maritime NZ staff conference - March 3rd 2010

Good morning and thank you for the invite.

I'm loving my role as Associate Transport Minister and the variety of portfolios I have.

I have a strong interest in maritime issues because I represent the coastal electorate of Otaki.

I'm also a recreational boatie and enjoy fishing in the sea or lakes.

Today I'm going to cover:

• Government's priorities, particularly for transport
• Priorities for the maritime sector
• Some of the issues and challenges facing Maritime NZ

The conference theme is "Good to Great", which is a summary of what the government wants to achieve for New Zealand.

The government's goal for maritime policy is simple - we want safer, cleaner and more secure seas.

Since being elected the Prime Minister has made his number one priority clear: to lift the performance of the economy.

Economic growth means more opportunities for people, better jobs and higher pay.

Transport, and the maritime sector, has a big role to play in the economy. As an isolated island nation, we rely on transport to trade with the world and earn a living. Around 99% of our exports and imports are carried by ship.

Coastal shipping plays a key role in moving goods between our ports, while harbour ferries carry more than 4 million passengers a year in the Auckland region alone.

The commercial fishing industry alone is worth more than $4 billion.

Our biggest export earner these days is tourism, and increasingly many of these tourists arrive on cruise ships. It's been great to see the cruise ships back in Wellington over the last couple of months.

Adventure tourism, such as white water rafting and jet boating, has played a big part in the growth of tourism.  We have 100 commercial jet boats and 288 white water rafts, carrying almost half a million passengers per year. 

The point I'm making is that many industries, jobs and lives depend on the maritime sector operating safely and smoothly.

I appreciate the good work Maritime New Zealand has done over the last year, and I'm very aware of the pressures you are under.

Most people are aware of how the global recession has hit New Zealand, and the government's finances.

Just to put it into perspective - the government now borrows $240 million a week. That's not for anything new - it's just to pay the bills.

That's why we have asked all departments and agencies to look at how they use their funding. Taxpayers need to know their money is being spent as wisely as possible.

This year the Government will continue to drive savings in the public sector, demand stronger performance from government agencies, and lift the quality of public services.

We know it's not easy, but it has to be done. The pressure on government departments to lift their game will be constant. Most agencies will see no additional funding for several years. Things are still pretty tough.

Many agencies are reorganising their back office functions, making better use of technology, and sharing support services with other agencies. Resources must support frontline services for the public.

Safety

The Government has charged you with leading and supporting the maritime industry to develop and maintain the highest standards.

The maritime transport sector has a very good safety record, but there is always room for improvement.

You are dealing with large stretches of ocean (the blue highway) that can cause all sorts of challenges. Just look at how everyone was on edge last Sunday with the Tsunami alert.

We had planned to go swimming as a family at our favourite beach, Waitarere, but with three kids aged five and under we put that idea on hold!

Of concern recently has been the increase in fatalities and accidents involving commercial vessels. Research shows that a consistent theme in these events is a lack of safety culture.

Maritime New Zealand has increased its efforts to address the problem, with more one-on-one mentoring and the redevelopment of educational material for operators.

Of course, raising standards across the board is not something that any one person, group or agency can do alone.

The basic principle is that operators are best placed to take personal responsibility for their own safety during day to day operations.

There will always be challenges and tensions in such a system. Industry and regulators won't always see eye to eye - and this is not a problem unique to Maritime policy.

I believe we all want the same outcome - a robust, safe and sustainable maritime transport system.

We want reasonable compliance requirements, clear rules, and regulations that are applied fairly and consistently.

At the same time this has to be balanced with the need for the regulator to recover the true cost of the various services it provides to industry, and run the necessary safety initiatives.

Review of Qualifications and Operational Limits

The review of Qualifications and Operational Limits is one of the most significant projects ever undertaken by Maritime New Zealand.  It will affect commercial operators throughout the industry.

It's acknowledged that the current qualifications and operational limits (QOL) framework needs improvement.

The review's purpose is to come up with a clearer and more logical framework that meets the future needs of our commercial maritime sector.

MNZ has been involved in an extensive programme of one-on-one engagement with people in the industry from around the country. I'll be watching with interest to see what final shape it will take.

Review of Safe Ship Management Rule Parts 21 and 46

Another big priority has been the review of the Safe Ship Management (SSM) system.

Operators are best placed to ensure their own safety on board, and this is supported by the Government. It's fair to say though, that there's room for improvement in the delivery of the system.

Research says there hasn't been a sustained, long-term reduction in the number of fatalities, accidents or serious harm injuries under SSM despite operational improvements made over the past 10 years.

This shows that the ‘human factor' is still by far the biggest cause of accidents - and that a stronger focus on safer day-to-day operations is needed.

Any new system will need to be phased in, and focus on training and education for operators and providers. Again I look forward to hearing about progress on this.

Finally - can I thank you again for the important work you do. This conference is a good chance to reflect on your achievements over the last year, and the exciting challenges ahead over the next 12 months.

Thank you.