The Lyttelton Port Company has admitted it failed to ensure the safety of an employee who died while on the job.
Brad Fletcher died last August when the lift he was working on at the port toppled over.
The 40-year-old father-of-three was the third person to have died working there in the past two years.
The company pleaded guilty in the Christchurch District Court today to one charge of failing to ensure the safety of an employee.
Mr Fletcher's widow Anita said her husband was a hard working employee who had the right to go to work and be safe.
Mrs Fletcher said she was happy with the plea but it did nothing to relieve the pain her family was still suffering.
Lyttelton Port Company chief executive Peter Davie said the port had taken every step to identify and rectify what had led to the deaths.
The port had made a number of changes since the accident and was constantly improving health and safety, he said.
The company will be sentenced on 6 August.