On Monday, 25 September 2023, Maritime New Zealand (MNZ) held an online Hui outlining the background to the decision made for the future grants funding model in support of sustainable onshore welfare services.
MNZ Deputy Chief Executive Partnerships, Sharyn Forsyth, hosted the Hui alongside MNZ colleagues and 35 attendees from across the New Zealand (NZ) government, welfare providers, unions, volunteer supporters and international stakeholders, including Human Rights at Sea.
Throughout the Hui, the main reinforced point was to keep the seafarer at the forefront of all stakeholder's focus and considerations.
Consultation Outcome
Following a detailed public consultation that closed on 16 August 2023, 60 submission emails were received and passed through the MNZ decision-making Programme Board, where the 'Option 3 Grants Model' option was agreed by 86% of respondents.
At the front end, this would mean individual NZ ports gain control of funding to reflect local requirements and welfare service provision.
The proposed delivery of funding through MNZ could be undertaken through an established and financially overseen grants process that has already been in place for the past ten years for recreational craft levy use. It is proposed that this same process could be adapted for future seafarer welfare grants.
Importantly, Government financial oversight would be provided alongside procurement, legal and governance teams' involvement, backed by a government grants policy, applicable codes of conduct, applicable finance and procurement policies and an independent external audit process.
Funding and Elections
Current funding levels have been assured to June 2024, but thereafter, there will need to be a government-led public funding review.
Further, with a country-wide election looming close, the timings for future implementation of the grants model will now be in the hands of the incoming government.
This brings a level of uncertainty and is the reason why MNZ is not able to fully implement a new funding model prescribed under the legislative amendment to the 1994 Maritime Transport Act in July 2021.
Nonetheless, stated careful use of the time in-between the elections and the establishment of the next government will see a trial of the new grants model.
Funding Trial
A local port will be chosen to trial the new grant model from 1 January 2024 to the end of the current financial year ending May 2024.
This will mean that the local port and Port Welfare Committee (PWC) will need to demonstrate unity and commitment to working with MNZ for an effective delivery process, including providing a transparent and continuous feedback process, including MNZ evaluation. The existing Seafarer Welfare Board (SWB) will continue to work closely with Maritime NZ in the delivery of seafarer welfare services throughout the country.
Not all ports have PWCs as per MLC requirements. This means that MNZ will need to coordinate views and work with those ports to ensure equality in representation for funding and respective funding applications.
Proposal to establish a New Zealand Seafarer Welfare Council
As part of the new steps, MNZ has proposed the establishment of a New Zealand Welfare Council.
The Council's envisaged role will align with Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) requirements for a national welfare board to contribute to the effective administration of the new grants process, provide high-level strategy and policy advice, including applicable International Maritime Organisation (IMO) developments, and both reviewing and advising on MLC complaints at a state level.
The long-term vision for the future of seafarer welfare funding in New Zealand would become a potential lead concern for the new Council as part of its remit to advise on discussing strategic issues.
Human Rights at Sea Comment
The process for the ongoing development of the New Zealand onshore seafarer welfare funding model remains a critical precedent for replication around the world. This process reflected the seminal independent HRAS Report of March 2020 New Zealand: Under-Funding of Seafarers' Welfare Services and Poor MLC Compliance with supporting Counsel's opinion alongside the then Seafarers Welfare Board and local Labour Party activists, which resulted in an amendment to the 1994 Maritime Transport Act.
As an intimate part and example of the HRAS Maritime Levy Campaign, current advancements in New Zealand are positive, but one cannot underestimate the forthcoming challenges in terms of establishment, which could derail the previous hard work in affecting sustainability for seafarers' welfare in-country.
NB: 'Hui'. A Māori cultural term whose key functions of those gathering to participate is to collect, generate and disperse information and, in so doing, generate enlightenment.
Related Articles (Dated ordered oldest – newest)
New Zealand: Under-Funding of Seafarers’ Welfare Services and Poor MLC Compliance – March 2020 [Updated]: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/new-zealand-under-funding-seafarers-welfare-services-and-poor-mlc-compliance-march-2020-updated
New Zealand Government to change maritime law to fund seafarer’s centres – 11 March 2022: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/new-zealand-government-change-maritime-law-fund-seafarers-centres
Impact of seafarers’ welfare maritime levy now evident in New Zealand, says Transport Minister – 11 March 2022: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/impact-seafarers-welfare-maritime-levy-now-evident-new-zealand-says-transport-minister
Counsel’s Opinion: New Zealand: Under-Funding of Seafarers’ Welfare Services and Poor MLC Compliance – 3 April 2020: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/counsels-opinion-new-zealand-under-funding-seafarers-welfare-services-and-poor-mlc-compliance-3-0
New Zealand Transport Minister updates HRAS on Seafarer welfare funding legislation – 20 April 2022: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/new-zealand-transport-minister-updates-hras-seafarer-welfare-funding-legislation
Seafarers Welfare Board for New Zealand fully concurs with HRAS Report – 22 April 2020: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/seafarers-welfare-board-new-zealand-fully-concurs-hras-report
In Force. New Zealand Amends Legislation to provide assured Seafarer Welfare funding – 1 July 2022: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/force-new-zealand-amends-legislation-provide-assured-seafarer-welfare-funding
New Zealand Government drives legislative change in support of Seafarers’ Centres – 15 October 2022: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/new-zealand-government-drives-legislative-change-support-seafarers-centres
Maritime New Zealand Requests HRAS Advisory Opinion on a Future Model for Sustainable Seafarer Welfare Funding – 29 November 2022: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/maritime-new-zealand-requests-hras-advisory-opinion-future-model-sustainable-seafarer-welfare
New Zealand Government Department Seeks Public Review of Maritime Levy Options for Seafarer Welfare Funding - 24 July 2023: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/new-zealand-government-department-seeks-public-review-maritime-levy-options-seafarer-welfare
Sustainable New Zealand Welfare Funding Mechanism Close to Agreement but Rivalries Remain - 30 August 2023: https://www.humanrightsatsea.org/news/sustainable-new-zealand-welfare-funding-mechanism-close-agreement-rivalries-remain
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