Legal Aftermath Follows Tragic Northland Vessel Capsizing Incident

On 20 March, 2022, tragedy struck off the Northland coast as a vessel carrying 10 people capsized after being hit by a large wave. The boat was returning from a charter fishing trip at the Three Kings when the incident occurred. Despite the harrowing circumstances, five individuals managed to survive by activating an EPIRB, and they were rescued by a helicopter that responded to the distress call.

The search and rescue operation, led by Maritime NZ’s Rescue Coordination Centre, involved a collaborative effort from various agencies including the NZDF, Police, Coastguard, local vessels, and rescue helicopter trusts from Northland and Auckland. In May 2024, the skipper of the vessel, Lance Goodhew, faced a judge-alone trial following a charge filed by Maritime NZ under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

After a lengthy legal process, Judge Philip Rzepecky released his decision on 22 July, 2024, ruling in favor of Lance Goodhew. General Manager Investigations at Maritime NZ, Pete Dwen, expressed condolences to the families of the victims, survivors, responders, and all those affected by the tragic incident. The organization will now review the judge’s decision before determining any potential next steps, while also expressing gratitude to those involved in the proceedings related to the case.

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