The Minister for Workplace Safety is asking the country's ports to "pull itself together" after two work-place deaths in the space of a week.
Michael Wood has ordered the Transport Accident Investigation Commission to examine the deaths and to determine if there need to be safety improvements.
He expects the investigation will take about a year.
Michael Wood wants all ports to review their operations and provide assurances that the appropriate steps are being taken to minimise the risk of harm for all high-risk activities.
He is also asking leaders in the sector to advise him whether any regulatory changes are required.
Maritime New Zealand and WorkSafe will also assess each of the 13 major international commercial ports around the country over the next fortnight.
Michael Wood says he is doing everything he can to ensure ports are safe places to work.
