If you are the employer of a seafarer on a New Zealand ship, you must report to the Director if you dismiss a seafarer for certain reasons. These reasons include violence, alcohol, the use, supply, or possession of controlled drugs as defined in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, or the misuse of prescription medicines as defined in the Medicines Act 1981. The Director will keep the person's name private unless it is on a special list, and even then, they can only share the name in certain circumstances as outlined in section 52(4).

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This page was last updated on 25 May 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM335659.

19: Duties of master, or

"What the captain of a ship must do to keep everyone safe"

21: Pleasure craft departing for overseas, or

"Rules for pleasure boats leaving New Zealand for another country"

Part 3Duties in relation to maritime activity
General duties

20Duty to report dismissals

The employer of any seafarer on a New Zealand ship shall report to the Director any dismissal from employment of a seafarer that is a dismissal related to violence, alcohol, the use, supply, or possession of controlled drugs (as defined in the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975), or the misuse of prescription medicines (as defined in the Medicines Act 1981).
The Director shall not release the name of any person reported under subsection (1) unless the person’s name appears on a list maintained under section 52(4); and any release of such a name shall be made only to the extent provided for in section 52(4).