A worker has died at the Ports of Auckland on Tuesday morning.
Emergency services were called to the scene about 9:25am. St John deployed multiple ambulances and Fire and Emergency New Zealand sent several appliances.
The incident involved a stevedore employed by Wallace Investments, who was working at the port and killed during the loading and unloading of freight.
"It is with deep sadness that we inform you today of the death of one of our staff members," Wallace Investments general manager Felix van Aalst said.
"The company and staff are devastated by today's incident and our immediate thoughts are with family and friends of the deceased.
"At this stage we cannot comment further on the incident as it is too early to know what happened but we can confirm it was a fall from height."
He said the company would conduct its own investigation into the incident and would cooperate with Maritime New Zealand.
New Zealand Maritime Union national secretary Craig Harrison said the death was "devastating for family and workmates".
"It is understood he fell from a height while working on the Singaporean flagged container ship Capitaine Tasman," he said in a statement. "Details are yet to be confirmed."
Harrison said Maritime NZ would investigate the incident and police remained at the scene on Tuesday afternoon.
"The Maritime Union is willing to be involved in that investigation where possible," he said. "The tragedy reinforces the dangers faced by port workers everyday throughout New Zealand."
Ports of Auckland said it would support Wallace Investments and Maritime NZ in their investigations.
"This is tragic news and a shock to us all. Our deepest sympathy goes out to the family, friends and colleagues of the person involved," Ports of Auckland said in a statement.
"Work on this vessel stopped immediately and an official investigation is underway. Wallace Investments is one of several independent stevedoring companies which work at the port on behalf of shipping companies.
"Ports of Auckland has the ultimate responsibility for everyone who comes onto the port site as the principle PCBU (person conducting a business or undertaking), a responsibility that drives all our decisions and actions."
Safety at the port has previously been under intense scrutiny, with three deaths occurring there since 2017 before Tuesday's fatality.
Last year, an independent review conducted into health and safety at the port found the need for changes and improvements.
Then-chief executive Tony Gibson subsequently resigned.
