The Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC, Māori: Te Kōmihana Tirotiro Aituā Waka) is a transport safety body of New Zealand. It has its headquarters on the 7th floor of 10 Brandon Street in Wellington.[1] The agency investigates aviation, marine, and rail accidents and incidents occurring in New Zealand, with a view to avoid similar occurrences in the future, rather than ascribing blame to any person. It does not investigate road accidents except where they affect the safety of aviation, marine, or rail (e.g. level crossing or car ferry accidents).[2]
| Te Komihana Tirotiro Aitua Waka | |
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| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 September 1990 |
| Jurisdiction | New Zealand |
| Headquarters | Wellington, New Zealand 41°16′59″S 174°46′37″E / 41.283°S 174.777°E |
| Employees | 30 |
| Annual budget | $9.3M NZD (2023) |
| Minister responsible |
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| Agency executives |
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| Parent agency | Ministry of Transport |
| Website | www.taic.org.nz |
It was established by an act of the Parliament of New Zealand (the Transport Accident Investigation Commission Act 1990) on 1 September 1990. TAIC's legislation, functions and powers were modelled on and share some similarities with the National Transportation Safety Board (USA) and the Transportation Safety Board (Canada). It is a standing Commission of Inquiry and an independent Crown entity, and reports to the minister of transport.
Initially investigating aviation accidents only, the TAIC's jurisdiction was extended in 1992 to cover railway accidents and later in 1995 to cover marine accidents.
In May 2006, the Aviation Industry Association claimed too often the organisation did not find the true cause of accidents, after TAIC released the results of a second investigation into a fatal helicopter crash at Taumarunui in 2001. The commission rejected[3] the criticism, CEO Lois Hutchinson citing the results of a March 2003 audit by the International Civil Aviation Organization.[4]
Ron Chippindale, who investigated the Mount Erebus Disaster, was Chief Inspector of Accidents from 1990 to 31 October 1998.[5] He was succeeded as chief investigator of accidents by Capt. Tim Burfoot,[6] John Mockett in 2002,[7] Tim Burfoot again in 2007,[8] Aaron Holman in 2019,[9] Harald Hendel in 2020,[10] and Naveen Kozhuppakalam in 2022.[11]
Peer agencies in other countries
edit- Australian Transport Safety Bureau
- Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board – South Korea
- Dutch Safety Board – Netherlands
- Taiwan Transportation Safety Board – Taiwan
- Japan Transport Safety Board
- National Transportation Safety Board – United States
- National Transportation Safety Committee – Indonesia
- Safety Investigation Authority – Finland
- Swedish Accident Investigation Authority – Sweden
- Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board – Switzerland
- Transportation Safety Board of Canada
- Transport Safety Investigation Bureau – Singapore
References
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- ^ "TAIC website 'contact us'". TAIC. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
- ^ "TAIC homepage." Transport Accident Investigation Commission. Retrieved on 13 February 2018.
- ^ "RNZ Insight 20 Mar 16 - TAIC inquiries mentioned". TAIC. 20 March 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ "Air crash investigators hit back". New Zealand Herald. 23 May 2006. Retrieved 22 October 2008.
- ^ "Bulletin October 1998". TAIC. Retrieved 28 April 2009.
- ^ "TAIC Annual Report 200/01" (PDF).
- ^ "TAIC Annual Report 2002/03" (PDF).
- ^ "TAIC Annual Report 2006/07" (PDF). Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- ^ "TAIC Annual Report 2018/19" (PDF). TAIC. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
- ^ "Quoted for 1st time in TAIC media release". TAIC. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "TAIC media release - Kaikōura capsize: appeal for witnesses". Transport Accident Investigation Commission. 11 September 2022. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
External links
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