Union chief joins sea safety body

Seafarers' Union president Dave Morgan has been appointed to the Maritime Safety Authority board, a month after making outspoken comments over the stranded bulk carrier Tai Ping.

Transport Minister Paul Swain announced the appointment yesterday, among other transport-related appointees.

Last month, Mr Morgan said the grounding of the Tai Ping off Bluff was a result of legislation allowing foreign ships to deliver cargo round New Zealand.

"This exposes New Zealand to world-worst practices and results in ships stranding," he said. "There are bulk liquid petroleum tankers with no better credentials than the Tai Ping doing this on a regular basis ... It is a disaster in the wings waiting to happen."

Pauline Barratt, a partner with Jones Fee solicitors in Auckland, was also appointed to the authority's board.

Dunedin lawyer Susie Staley will chair the board until November 30, 2004.

Labour Party president Mike Williams was reappointed to the board of Transit New Zealand for a second three-year term.

Mr Williams, an information technology analyst, is also a director of the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences.

Former Alliance MP John Wright will join the Transit board.

David Stubbs has been reappointed chairman of Transfund New Zealand until October 31 next year.

He spent much of his career with the Auckland City Council as director of works, technical services and planning and development services.

Independent policy analyst Janice Wright will be deputy chairwoman of Transfund until October 31, 2004.

Gretchen Kivell was reappointed to the board of the Land Transport Safety Authority, until November 30, 2004. She is a former president of the Institution of Professional Engineers.

Journalist and road safety campaigner Ginny Wilson will join the Road Safety Trust for three years.

- NZPA

Further reading
nzherald.co.nz/marine