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Police, Maritime New Zealand and the Department of Labour are investigating the death of a man at Lyttelton wharf near Christchurch last night.
Police said the 55-year-old Lyttelton Port Authority employee died in a workplace accident at Cashin Quay at about 8pm.
Lyttelton police Sergeant Phil Newton said the incident occurred while a coal ship, Devprayag, was being moored at Cashin Quay.
A Maritime New Zealand spokeswoman said the incident which involved a rope happened as the man was standing on the wharf as the ship was leaving.
The coal ship was still in port today.
- NZPA