Maritime Union wants more caution at ports as Covid-19 mutates

The Maritime Union believes more caution is needed before New Zealand workers are allowed onto foreign ships. Nearly 100 Tauranga port workers have been stood down to be tested for Covid-19, after setting foot on the container ship Rio De La Plata where about half the crew have now tested positive for Covid-19. The national secretary of the union Craig Harrison told Māni Dunlop he's not sure the maritime rules are still fit-for-purpose to deal with new Covid variants. And he thinks it's time to reconsider whether coastal shipping should only be done by New Zealand crews.