International engagement
The IMO has 176 Member States, including New Zealand (since 1960), and 13 other Member States from our Pacific region (Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu).
New Zealand is an active participant at the IMO. Our focus at the IMO is on working with other Members to improve maritime safety, security and environmental protection outcomes both globally and across the Pacific.
The IMO covers all aspects of international shipping – including ship design, construction, equipment, crewing, operation and disposal.
Key treaties of the IMO (all of which New Zealand has adopted) include:
- International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)
- International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)
- International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW).
The International Labour Organization
New Zealand also works closely with the International Labour Organization (ILO), a specialised United Nations agency that promotes global standards for fair and safe working conditions. The Maritime Labour Convention (the MLC) establishes minimum requirements for the health, safety and wellbeing of seafarers.
Working with other countries
Maritime NZ also engages directly at a regulator‑to‑regulator level, enabling us to remain aligned with global trends, influence regulatory best practice and ensure New Zealand’s maritime system remains safe, competitive and responsive to international developments.
International Conventions
New Zealand is a party to many key international maritime conventions that enable safe, clean, secure and sustainable maritime supply chains.
Pacific Maritime Safety Programme
We work with Pacific nations through the Pacific Maritime Safety Programme (PMSP) to deliver targeted support for maritime safety activities.