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NEWS FROM THE SAILORS SOCIETY - AUCKLAND
FEBRUARY 2010 - Newsletter published
FEBRUARY 2010 - 2010 dedicated to seafarers
JANUARY 2010 - ICMA Calendars go aboard (links to ICMA site)
NOVEMBER 2009 - Newsletter published
AUGUST 2009 - Annual report and Newsletter published
SEAFARERS FROM SHIN JI
Reproduced by the kind permission of Professional Skipper Magazine (Oct/Nov 2009 edition).
Photographs courtesy of ITF and Sailors Society, Auckland
In early June, Auckland police picked up a group of men found sleeping rough on the streets in bitterly cold weather. None of them spoke English, and were taken to the Auckland Central Police Station and checked in as vagrants. After a night in the cells and realising that the group were seafarers local Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) officials were called in to help. The 11 men proved to be Indonesian sailors from the Korean fishing vessel, SHIN JI (formerly King Fook 88). Police and the union officials took the seafarers to the Auckland International Seafarers Centre in Quay Street.
There they were given tea, coffee and food while they met with immigration officials, representatives of the joint venture fishing company and the local inspector for the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), Grahame McLaren.
McLaren had abandoned leading a training course in Tauranga to head to Auckland to assist in the negotiations as soon as he heard of their plight. The men resolutely refused to return to their vessel alleging bullying and poor treatment by its Korean officers, salt water showers which were limited to one per week, no hot water and no pay for 4 months.
The Seafarers’ Centre is run as a partnership by Auckland's three main seafarers’ welfare groups. The Sailors’ Society chairman, Terry Nobbs, was on duty when the group arrived and assisted in their care.
ITF Inspector McLaren subsequently visited the vessel to check out the crew’s allegations. He noted that it was in a generally untidy and poorly maintained condition, with fishing gear blocking access to the liferaft on the upper deck. He found however, that the vessel appeared to be well provisioned.
At the ITF Inspector’s insistence, the sailors were accommodated by the charterers, Tu'ere Fishing Ltd of Christchurch, in a North Shore motel for two days while discussions were concluded. Arrangements were made to pay the crew and arrange their return flights to Indonesia.
Under ITF supervision a little over $50,000 was finally paid to the men, who left Auckland a couple of days after their walk-off protest had commenced, pleased to return home and obviously pleased with the resolution of their concerns. An ITF representative met the men on arrival at Jakarta to ensure they got safely to their homes.
“I was impressed by the union and ITF who showed a high level of concern for the men.” said Nobbs, adding “We were pleased to help - that is what we are here for.”
However,when contacted by Professional Skipper, Nobbs appeared to be less impressed by the New Zealand charterers of the vessel who, he said, seemed to be more concerned about getting the vessel back to sea than the concerns of the seafarers.
 
JUNE 2009 - Newsletter published
APRIL 2009 - Newsletter published
DECEMBER 2008 - Newsletter published
MARCH 2006
VISIT BY PRINCIPAL CHAPLAIN BISS
Rev David Potterton, the principal chaplain of the British and International Sailors Society, visited NZ 11-17 March. He preached at the 10am service in the Auckland International Seafarers Centre (at which a 'Bethel' flag was presented) and then visited the other ISS Centres in New Zealand.
Rev David Potterton (Centre) with ISS Auckland Board 12 March 2006
(l-r) Jane Robbins (Hon Sec), Larry Robbins (Hon Treas), Terry Nobbs (Chairman), David Millar (Chaplain), David Potterton, Rod Hoggard (Baptist rep), Larry Grosse (Presbyterian rep), Merv Aitken (Minister St James Church and Community and AISC chaplain)
FEB 2006 - Newsletter (MSWORD format)
NOV 2005 - Newsletter (MSWORD format)
OCT 2005
 The Hon Treasurer of the ISS Auckland, Larry Robbins, has been appointed as Hon National Secretary of the ISS New Zealand.
He succeeds Shirley Farquhar of the Otago ISS who has served in this position for 26 years.
The handover took place at the National AGM in Wellington on 11 October.
The photograph shows Larry and Shirley with a large bouquet of flowers sent to Shirley by the Chairman and Directors of the parent body, the British and International Sailors Society (UK)
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