A dispute over unpaid wages to foreign fishermen has risen to about $30 million, prompting the Maritime Union to ask that legislation covering their vessels be brought forward.
The London-based International Transport Workers met the union about a campaign, run by Slave Free Seas, in Auckland last week in an effort to get the money paid.
Under the Foreign Charter Vessels and Other Matters Bill, all foreign fishing boats operating in New Zealand waters would have to be reflagged from 2016, giving New Zealand total control over their activities.
But Maritime Union secretary Joe Fleetwood says it wants reflagging to occur in 2014 because of the rising bill for unpaid wages, which involves mostly Indonesian fishermen.
Mr Fleetwood says unpaid wages for foreign seafarers working off the New Zealand coast have risen six-fold from about $5 million in 2012 to $30 million.
