High Court upholds conviction of former Ports of Auckland CEO

In Gibson v Maritime New Zealand [2026] NZHC 813, the High Court upheld the conviction of Tony Gibson, former CEO of Ports of Auckland Ltd, for failing to exercise due diligence under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. This landmark decision marks the first conviction of a director or executive of a large New Zealand company under section 44 of the Act, underscoring the personal accountability of senior leaders for workplace safety. The ruling provides critical guidance on the scope of officers' due diligence obligations.