The Maritime Union of New Zealand is welcoming support from Labour, the Greens and the Alliance for a major overhaul of the country’s shipping industry, including rebuilding a New Zealand-crewed coastal fleet, protecting public ownership of ports and strengthening employment conditions for maritime workers.
With the November 7 general election approaching, the union says New Zealand needs a stronger domestic shipping industry to protect jobs, improve supply chain security and reduce dependence on overseas shipping companies.
The Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) has released the results of an election policy survey seeking political party commitments to five proposals aimed at strengthening the maritime sector.
Labour, the Greens and the Alliance provided supportive responses, while other political parties did not respond to the union’s survey.
National Secretary Carl Findlay says rebuilding coastal shipping is essential to New Zealand’s economic resilience and the future of its maritime workforce.
FIVE KEY DEMANDS FOR THE NEXT GOVERNMENT
The Maritime Union wants the next government to adopt five priorities designed to rebuild domestic shipping and improve employment standards.
These include:
- Rebuilding New Zealand’s coastal fleet by underwriting New Zealand-flagged and New Zealand-crewed vessels to transport freight between domestic ports.
- Protecting public ownership of ports through a coordinated National Ports Strategy that improves efficiency and reduces unnecessary competition between ports.
- Fairer transport investment by assessing infrastructure projects on the benefits they deliver, rather than favouring particular transport modes.
- Extending New Zealand employment protections so seafarers working on international ships in New Zealand waters receive New Zealand wages and employment conditions.
- Greater transparency from international shipping companies about the pay and working conditions of their crews.
The union argues these changes would help rebuild an industry it believes has been weakened by decades of deregulation and increasing reliance on foreign shipping operators.
LABOUR, GREENS AND ALLIANCE SIGNAL SUPPORT
According to the union, Labour, the Greens and the Alliance responded positively to its election proposals.
The Maritime Union has separately welcomed Labour’s commitment to develop a programme supporting coastal shipping as a lower-emissions freight option, alongside better coordination between New Zealand ports.
The union believes a stronger domestic fleet would create skilled employment opportunities, improve freight reliability and reduce the country’s exposure to disruptions affecting international shipping.
However, the extent to which each party would implement the union’s proposals would depend on its final policy commitments, funding decisions and any governing arrangements following the election.
The union’s announcement does not establish that parties which failed to respond oppose the proposals.
PUBLIC OWNERSHIP OF PORTS BACK IN THE SPOTLIGHT
The union’s call for a National Ports Strategy also brings the future ownership and management of New Zealand’s ports into focus.
MUNZ wants ports to operate as part of a coordinated national freight network rather than competing unnecessarily for business and investment.
The union argues that stronger coordination could reduce duplicated infrastructure spending, improve freight scheduling and support the long-term viability of regional ports.
Public ownership is another central part of its position.
Ports are critical infrastructure for New Zealand’s import and export economy, and decisions about their ownership and operation have implications for workers, local communities and the wider supply chain.
The union maintains that retaining public control of these assets is important for national economic security.
FAIR PAY FOR SEAFARERS ON FOREIGN SHIPS
The Maritime Union is also calling for stronger protections for workers employed aboard international vessels operating in New Zealand waters.
It wants New Zealand wages and employment law to apply more broadly to those seafarers, alongside requirements for international shipping lines to disclose information about crew pay and working conditions.
The union argues that differences in employment standards can place New Zealand-crewed vessels at a competitive disadvantage.
It believes stronger protections would help prevent poor employment conditions and create a fairer operating environment for domestic shipping companies.
The proposals would require careful consideration of maritime law, international obligations and enforcement arrangements.
WHY COASTAL SHIPPING MATTERS FOR AOTEAROA
New Zealand depends heavily on maritime transport to move goods internationally, while much of its domestic freight travels by road.
The Maritime Union argues that a stronger coastal shipping network could provide an alternative for moving freight between regions.
Its potential benefits include reduced pressure on highways, lower freight emissions, improved resilience during natural disasters and new employment opportunities for New Zealand workers.
The union also says the country has become too dependent on overseas shipping companies to meet its freight needs.
Recent disruptions to international supply chains and severe weather events have reinforced concerns about the importance of reliable domestic transport connections.
Coastal shipping could provide another option when roads and rail lines are damaged or inaccessible.
However, expanding the sector would require investment in vessels, port facilities, freight connections and a sustainable operating model.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR MĀORI ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The future of coastal shipping also has implications for Māori economic development, particularly for iwi involved in fisheries, seafood processing, exports, logistics and regional businesses.
Reliable shipping connections can support regional industries by providing additional options for transporting goods to domestic and international markets.
The Maritime Union has previously identified opportunities for Māori participation in the coastal shipping economy, including maritime employment, skills development and business activity.
For Māori communities with longstanding relationships to the moana, maritime development also intersects with kaitiakitanga, environmental management and the sustainable use of marine resources.
Any major expansion of coastal shipping would therefore create opportunities for engagement with iwi, hapū and Māori businesses on infrastructure, workforce development and environmental responsibilities.
ELECTION 2026: SHIPPING POLICY ENTERS THE DEBATE
Although the cost of living, housing, health and crime have dominated much of the election campaign, the Maritime Union argues that transport and shipping policy deserves greater attention.
New Zealand’s economic performance depends heavily on the efficient movement of freight, particularly for exporters and regional industries.
The union believes the next government should treat coastal shipping as essential national infrastructure rather than a secondary transport option.
Its latest announcement also places employment standards and public ownership at the centre of the debate.
With Labour, the Greens and the Alliance signalling support for the union’s proposals, attention now turns to whether those commitments will translate into practical investment, stronger worker protections and a more resilient New Zealand shipping industry after the election.
For the Maritime Union, the message is clear: rebuilding New Zealand’s coastal fleet is about more than ships and ports. It is about protecting jobs, strengthening the economy and ensuring Aotearoa has greater control over the movement of its own freight.
#RadioWaatea #WaateaNews #MaritimeUnion #MUNZ #CoastalShipping #NZShipping #MaritimeWorkers #PortWorkers #PublicOwnership #NZPorts #FairPay #WorkersRights #Election2026 #LabourParty #GreenParty #NZTransport #SupplyChain #FreightTransport #MaoriEconomy #RegionalDevelopment #KiwiJobs #EconomicResilience #Aotearoa
