Former Ports of Auckland chief executive Tony Gibson has pleaded not guilty to two charges relating to the death of a worker involving a shipping container in 2020.
Pala’amo (Amo) Kalati was killed on August 30, 2020 after being crushed when a container was dropped during a lifting operation.
Ports of Auckland (POAL) has been charged in relation to the incident under sections 47, 48 and 90 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
Gibson has been charged under sections 48 and 49 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
Gibson’s lawyer, John Billington QC, confirmed to the NZ Herald the former ports chief executive had pleaded not guilty to the two charges.
It is the first time a chief executive from a company of POAL’s size has been charged under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
Maritime New Zealand filed the charges against Gibson and the ports in August 2021.
Gibson had been set to appear in the Auckland District Court on May 24 to provide his plea on the charges, but the written plea was made and the hearing has been rescheduled for October 10, the Herald reports.
Gibson announced his resignation in May 2021 and said he had been subject to “persistent and sometimes personal attacks” during that period.
There have been four deaths involving Ports of Auckland since 2017. The most recent was 26-year-old port worker Atiroa Tuaiti who fell from a container ship in April this year.
It has sparked action with the Government directing the Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) to begin an investigation into the recent port fatalities to determine any system wide lessons to improve safety.
Workplace relations and safety minister Michael Wood has requested all port companies to review their operations and provide assurances that the appropriate steps are being taken to minimise the risk of harm for all high risk activities.
