Transport Accident Investigation Commission

TAIC investigates air, marine and rail accidents and incidents to prevent recurrence.

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission is a standing Commission of Inquiry, an independent Crown entity established by the TAIC Act 1990. It determines the circumstances and causes of selected aviation, marine, and rail accidents and incidents with a view to avoiding similar occurrences in the future.

TAIC may open an inquiry if it believes there may be significant implications for transport safety, or when it may be able to make recommendations to improve transport safety.

TAIC acts impartially and independently from Government, transport operators, and any investigations by other authorities into regulatory compliance, occupational health and safety, or criminal activity.

Transport Accident Investigation Commission - Latest News [Page 1]

New TAIC Inquiry - TranzAlpine Train Disabled In Tunnel

Saturday, 30 May 2026, 5:26 pm | Transport Accident Investigation Commission

The purpose of this and every other TAIC inquiry is to improve transport safety by avoiding repeat accidents, rather than by ascribing blame. More >>

TAIC Report: Ferry Grounding Reveals Risks When Safety-Critical Upgrades Overlook Operational Impacts

Friday, 29 May 2026, 10:06 am | Transport Accident Investigation Commission

Chief Investigator of Accidents Louise Cook says the key issue was the management of change around a safety-critical system. More >>

TAIC Investigating Cray Fishing Boat Capsize Near Kaikoura

Monday, 25 May 2026, 6:21 pm | Transport Accident Investigation Commission

The investigators will examine the boat, along with data about it and its history, performance, maintenance, and design. And the operating environment is always of interest, including weather and sea conditions. More >>

TAIC Report On Runaway Wagons Highlights Port Otago Safety Culture And Training

Thursday, 23 April 2026, 9:03 am | Transport Accident Investigation Commission

TAIC has recommended that KiwiRail address the poor safety culture at Port Otago, improve shunt staff training, and review the design of its remote-control packs. More >>

Amaltal Mariner Inquiry

Tuesday, 7 April 2026, 6:54 pm | Transport Accident Investigation Commission

The purpose of this and every other TAIC inquiry is to improve transport safety by avoiding repeat accidents, rather than by ascribing blame. More >>

Train Passes Two Stop Signals, Exposes Nationwide Rail Safety Issue

Thursday, 2 April 2026, 11:28 am | Transport Accident Investigation Commission

Louise Cook, TAIC’s chief investigator of accidents, says the Commission’s inquiry into the signal passed at danger (SPAD) incident revealed that this was not an isolated failure. More >>

TAIC Will Not Open Inquiry Into West Coast Fishing Vessel Grounding

Friday, 20 March 2026, 2:38 pm | Transport Accident Investigation Commission

TAIC prioritises inquiries where there is potential to identify new systemic safety issues. The reported circumstances of this occurrence are consistent with risks already well established in recent investigations. More >>

TAIC Report On A320 Loss Of Control On Ground At Christchurch, May 2024

Thursday, 19 March 2026, 9:44 am | Transport Accident Investigation Commission

Chief Investigator of Accidents Louise Cook says it’s likely the engines spooling up startled the pilot, who responded instinctively, pulling both thrust levers back to maximum reverse. More >>

TAIC Investigating Black Cat Grounding, Akaroa Harbour

Saturday, 31 January 2026, 5:50 pm | Transport Accident Investigation Commission

The Commission has appointed a dedicated investigation team, who will be travelling to Akaroa as soon as practicable. More >>

Pilot Vessel Grounding Shows Why Electronic Navigation Matters In Restricted Visibility

Thursday, 29 January 2026, 9:27 am | Transport Accident Investigation Commission

TAIC’s Chief Investigator of Accidents, Louise Cook, says the master’s situational awareness was reduced by patchy fog and how they were operating the vessel. More >>

TAIC Identifies Component Defect Linked To Airbus A320 Engine Shutdowns

Thursday, 4 December 2025, 8:37 am | Transport Accident Investigation Commission

Chief Investigator of Accidents Louise Cook says the cause of the shutdown was self-activation of a switch that stops the engine and gets engine fire extinguishers ready for discharge. More >>

Rules Don’t Keep Overstretched Workers Safe

Friday, 27 June 2025, 9:19 am | Transport Accident Investigation Commission

TAIC’s final report, published today, investigates how three linked tamper machines* came to derail inside the Purewa tunnel in Auckland just after midnight on 9 October 2023. They had been authorised to pass through the tunnel, but rails and sleepers inside had been removed. More >>

TAIC Report - Drone Nearly Collides With A320 Passenger Plane

Thursday, 12 June 2025, 10:25 am | Transport Accident Investigation Commission

TAIC investigated a report of a near-collision between an Air New Zealand Airbus passenger flight and what was reported to be a drone, at 2000 feet on the approach to Auckland airport last April. More >>

TAIC Recommends Ban On Substandard Ships

Friday, 6 June 2025, 7:51 am | Transport Accident Investigation Commission

TAIC’s Chief Investigator of Accidents, Naveen Kozhuppakalam, says substandard ships represent a real risk to their crew members, to New Zealanders – including coastal and harbour pilots, stevedores, and other contractors – and to New Zealand’s ... More >>

Boeing 777 Veered Off Auckland Airport Runway Jan 2023

Thursday, 29 May 2025, 10:17 am | Transport Accident Investigation Commission

The Commission’s report describes how the Boeing 777, ZK-OKN was on a scheduled flight from Melbourne to Auckland. On approach to Auckland, it encountered heavy rain and the wind changed in direction and strength. More >>

Near-Collision Highlights Safety Lessons For All Busy, Unattended Aerodromes

Thursday, 8 May 2025, 8:34 am | Transport Accident Investigation Commission

On 3 October 2023, a twin-engine Beech Duchess passed within 20 feet of a Cessna 172 while both were on final approach at night. The Cessna pilot initiated a go-around to avoid a potential mid-air collision. Both aircraft landed safely. More >>

TAIC Inquiry Proves Vortex Ring State Safety Risk For Helicopters Worldwide

Thursday, 17 April 2025, 7:14 am | Transport Accident Investigation Commission

The investigation has found that the helicopter almost certainly entered a hazardous aerodynamic condition called vortex ring state (VRS) — marking what may be the first time a helicopter accident has been proven to have occurred as a direct result ... More >>