Greens ask for action on coastal shipping crisis

The Green Party has formally raised its concerns over the crisis in the coastal shipping industry with the Government.

"The latest blow has been an announcement from Pacifica Shipping that it's cutting its fleet by 25 per cent," Green Employment spokesperson, Sue Bradford said today. "It's more than two years since a Shipping Review was drawn-up, recommending a range of options to increase New Zealand's participation in shipping and maritime services.

"The Review still has not been implemented and in the meantime jobs continue to be lost from this once-thriving sector due to unfair competition from foreign vessels on coastal routes.

"We have written to Transport Minister, Paul Swain asking for urgency in finding ways to address the financial crisis affecting our coastal shipping industry and hope to discuss it with him at the earliest opportunity."

The Greens have an agreement with the Government to cooperate on transport issues and are raising this issue with the Government in that context.

© Scoop Media