NZ COASTAL SHIPPING: THIS IS THE REASON WE ARE CAMPAIGNING

This article was written after the May National Council meeting where it transpired not all the membership are actually aware of the reason behind our national campaign, especially newer and younger members, which is a worry.

Shipping campaigns are not a ‘new’ issue, far from it, for example as far back as the early 1900’s the New Zealand Federated Seamen’s Union campaigned against New Zealand companies who were attempting to drive wage scales down to the same level as that of the international companies that engaged foreign crews.

Right through our history we have never stopped campaigning to try and ensure we have New Zealand crewed ships, especially in the latter half of the 20th century.

Campaigns in some form have continued right through but the legislative changes of 1994 had the biggest negative impact for local Seafarers and New Zealand shipping companies.

In 1988, we saw the sale of New Zealand’s national shipping line, the Shipping Corporation of New Zealand, sadly, by a Labour Government stacked with Tories.

This was followed closely by the Privatisation era which saw asset sales and the loss of many state-owned enterprises, including our Rail network and Ferries.

This ensured the majority of profit went offshore with little or nothing coming back into the country’s economy.

The National Party then continued into 1990s with the Employment Contracts Act, deregulation and the ‘open coast’ policy through legislation changes, specifically Section 198 of the Maritime Transport Act 1994.

TONY MOWBRAY #1154

BRANCH PRESIDENT

This is why we urgently require the Government to amend the Maritime Transport Act to protect and increase New Zealand jobs, safeguard the environment and by provide reliable domestic shipping where money stays in New Zealand and helps local economies.

New Zealand also had the protection of the Trans Tasman Accord which ensured the carriage of cargo for domestic trade across the Tasman was carried on New Zealand or Australian manned and registered ships on both nations coasts.

This system is known as ‘Cabotage’ and while other countries have continued to retain it, unfortunately New Zealand has not to our great cost.

With consecutive Government since that time (including nine years of the Helen Clark led Labour Government) doing nothing, it is only the work done by the former NZSU now MUNZ lobbying over the decades that we have finally had some success with a long overdue financial boost into our maritime industry.

However, large foreign shipping companies can still take full advantage of the loopholes around Section 198 of the Maritime Transport Act, which in turn impacts New Zealand companies and New Zealand seafaring job prospects along with safe guards of reliability in the domestic carriage of cargo.

Our industry and country will remain at risk until such time that Section 198 is finally properly addressed.

Our environment is at an ever increased risk from many vessels of sub-standard condition (MV Shiling for example).

This also includes fuel / product tankers since our domestic tankers have now gone along with the refinery at Marsden Point with large numbers of overseas tankers now working on the coast.

For those of us who worked through the 1990s we remember at least 25 plus New Zealand crewed vessels that slowly disappeared until we were left with the handful we have now.

The Government need to amend Section 198 as soon as possible so foreign vessels bring inports in and exports out, but leave the domestic routes to New Zealand vessels instead of undercutting local New Zealand shippers who just can’t compete financially with the low wages and conditions, lack of local taxes and other advantages given to foreign and Flag of Convenience shipping.

All MUNZ members need to support this next stage of our campaign in your Branch.