Maritime New Zealand NZ has filed charges against Ports of Auckland Ltd (POAL) and an individual in relation to the death of a port worker in 2020.
Pala’amo (Amo) Kalati was killed on 30 August 2020 after being crushed when a container was dropped during a lifting operation.
The charges have been filed in Auckland District Court.
The following charges have been filed:
- POAL has been charged under sections 47, 48 and 90 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
- An individual has been charged under sections 48 and 49 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
Sections 47 and 48 carry maximum penalty fines of more than NZ$4.5 million ($3.15 million) collectively.
Section 47 establishes an offence of reckless conduct in respect of a health and safety duty and carries a maximum penalty of fine of up to NZ$3 million..
Section 48 is an offence of failing to comply with a duty that exposes an individual to the risk of death or serious injury with a maximum penalty of NZ$1.5 million.
Kirstie Hewlett, Director of Maritime New Zealand, said, “Maritime NZ has issued this media release as this case is of high public interest and to also provide consistent information to media and others who have regularly asked about the outcome of its investigation into the death of Mr Kalati at POAL.”
A court date has not yet been set.
