Business Reporter · 15/05/2026 · 15:38 NZT · 5 min read
"This restructure will remove the foremen who are the last line of defence against tragedy on our wharves."Gerard Loader, Maritime Union of New Zealand Lyttelton Branch President
WorkSafe New Zealand charged WasteCo NZ Ltd on or around May 4 2026 with three alleged breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 following the May 2025 death of worker Lynda Marion Kelly at the Te Anau transfer station.
Business leaders report modest gains in financial positivity while overall sentiment stays near record lows, underscoring a diverging economy where export-oriented sectors gain ground and domestic-facing industries struggle under fuel-price pressures and pre-election uncertainty.
New Zealand banks channel only 18 per cent of lending to businesses excluding agriculture, well below the 30 per cent share recorded in Australia at the same point.
Lyttelton Port Company will eliminate 14 container terminal roles after the Maritime Union of New Zealand decided against a Supreme Court appeal.
The restructure clears its final legal hurdle following the Court of Appeal's April 2026 ruling. The company can now proceed with changes that replace 35 disestablished foreman positions with 21 new team-leader roles on individual contracts.
Record Financials Despite Container Softness
Lyttelton Port reported record first-half results for FY26 despite softer container volumes. Revenue reached $108.5 million, up 7.6 percent. Net profit after tax rose 19.2 percent to $14.6 million. EBITDA increased 15.4 percent to $35.8 million.
Lyttelton Port H1 FY26 Financial Performance
Year-on-year change for the six months to December 2025.
Source: Lyttelton Port Company Half-Year Result Media Release, 4 February 2026
Container throughput fell 4 percent to 208,829 TEU in the six months to December 2025. Bulk cargo tonnage rose 13 percent to 1.93 million tonnes, driven by coal, dry bulk and logs.
Container throughput at Lyttelton fell 4% to 208,829 TEU in H1 FY26, even as the port posted record revenue of $108.5 million for the half-year.
Union Safety Warning
Gerard Loader, Maritime Union of New Zealand Lyttelton Branch President, warned the changes would remove experienced foremen from the wharves.
“This restructure will remove the foremen who are the last line of defence against tragedy on our wharves. We are concerned at the collapse of the relationship between the workforce and an aggressive management, which is undermining the future of the port.” — Gerard Loader, Maritime Union of New Zealand Lyttelton Branch President
Graeme Sumner, Lyttelton Port chief executive, highlighted resilience in bulk operations.
“This growth demonstrates the ongoing resilience of our bulk operations and the important role the port continues to play in supporting Canterbury’s and the South Island economy.” — Graeme Sumner, Chief Executive, Lyttelton Port Company
Dividend Implications for Christchurch Ratepayers
The port paid $12.1 million in dividends for FY25 to its sole shareholder, Christchurch City Holdings Limited. Those funds support Christchurch City Council budgets.
The Employment Court ruled in August 2025 that the company had not breached the Employment Relations Act. The Court of Appeal upheld that decision.
South Island Trade Anchor
Lyttelton Port remains the South Island’s largest container facility and handles $13.96 billion in annual two-way trade. Implementation of the changes is now expected to accelerate.
The outcome sets a precedent for other council-owned ports facing similar efficiency drives. Strong bulk performance and cost control have supported the port’s commercial position amid mixed trade signals.
