From a legal perspective, in 2012 the New Zealand maritime scene
has been dominated by the consequences of the grounding of the Rena
at Tauranga on 5 October 2011. An environmental oil pollution
disaster was threatened but largely averted, but that grounding has
proved to be the most costly maritime event in New Zealand's
history.
On a different topic, transport operators and their insurers
averted changes in the law that would have seriously impacted upon
New Zealand's domestic legislation governing carriage of goods,
though some changes will be made.
Lastly, while the courts have not been busy with transport
matters, of international interest, the law was clarified in
relation to enforcement of possessory liens by reference to English
and Singaporean authorities.
