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A report into a fishing boat sinking that killed six people off Stewart Island almost two years ago will be made public tomorrow (Friday).
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission's report into the capsizing of the 14-metre Kotuku, built in Nelson in 1963, will give the first conclusions from two investigations into the tragedy that unfolded in Foveaux Strait on May 13, 2006.
Maritime New Zealand is in the process of completing its report, which is expected to follow soon.
Six of nine people aboard the Kotuku died when the vessel capsized and sank in the Breaksea Island group while returning to Bluff with catch and equipment from a muttonbirding trip to the Titi Islands.
Three generations of a Bluff family died in New Zealand's worst maritime disaster since the sinking of the interisland ferry Wahine 40 years ago this month.
The sinking claimed the lives of nine-year-old cousins Shain Topi-Tairi and Sailor Trow-Topi, the children's grandfather Leslie (Peter) Topi, 78, Sailor's mother Tania Topi, 41, Clinton Woods, 34, and Ian Hayward, 52.
Three others - owner-skipper John Edminstin, Paul Topi and 16-year-old Dylan Topi - survived after swimming about 500m through heavy seas to Women's Island. Mr Woods made it to the island, but died awaiting rescue.
The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) will brief media in Invercargill this afternoon before the embargoed report is released publicly tomorrow.
It is expected to cover the wooden vessel's seaworthiness, safety systems and equipment carried aboard, its loading and the actions of its crew.
Survivors and family of the deceased are understood to be unhappy with the 100-page report after preliminary findings were released to them last October to allow them to make submissions before a final report was prepared.
- NZPA
