The pressure's on to enforce regulations at ports.

It comes after a person died while unloading coal from a ship at Lyttelton Port yesterday - merely six days after a death at the Ports of Auckland.

Maritime Union National Secretary Craig Harrison told Mike Hosking they're calling for an urgent inquiry into port safety, from which national standards should be developed.

He says it's concerning that with no regulations, some port workers are working up to 70 hours a week.

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