She did not know of the Australian union's decision and said the New Zealand Waterside Workers' Union had no ban on Fijian goods, although she believed the idea had been considered.
She said a small number of cargo shipments, about 40 containers, heading from New Zealand to Fiji had been postponed by shippers because of concerns about the political instability in Suva.
The New Zealand union could not be reached for comment last night.
The MUA brought Australian ports to a standstill two years ago in a confrontation with the Government, and would have little difficulty in locking out New Zealand cargo on sanction-busting ships.
MUA national secretary John Coombs said last night that shipowners should tell people they're not going to trans-ship cargo out of Fiji in this way because it was likely to get their vessels involved in some sort of disputation.
He declined to name ships, but said it was abundantly clear that cargo was being shipped from Fiji via New Zealand to Australia.
"It goes on one vessel into New Zealand, the whole set of papers are changed and it is placed on another vessel to give the impression that its origin was New Zealand rather than Fiji, and it is shipped to Australia.
"Of course, that is causing concern for those people in Fiji who want these bans retained so we can bring about some normality," Mr Coombs said.
"And, of course, it brings plenty of concern for me because the vast majority of shippers, shipping companies and consignees, whilst they're obviously very unhappy about the bans, understand why they're on.
"But if they think people are getting around it by this little smart manoeuvre it will make life very difficult ... They say, 'Why should I be penalised'?"
Mr Coombs said that if the union had to look for Fijian cargo among New Zealand shipments there could be long delays.
The union would not put a blanket ban on New Zealand cargo, but it would be held up. People who were trying to get around the bans would be far better to recognise that it was essential something be done about the crisis in Fiji, he said.
It would be very easy for the union to find out what ships were carrying Fijian cargo, but because of cooperation from shippers the ban had been easily enforced so far.
"For the vast majority of the time this has been on, shippers have simply said to people, 'Don't bother to bring the cargo down' or 'Don't bother coming to pick up the cargo because it won't be there or we won't receive it.'
"If we have to start looking for trans-shipments it might delay other cargoes that are quite properly and genuinely on board."
Mr Coombs said the ultimate responsibility lay with shipowners.
They had control over the cargo coming on board and unions wanted to let them know trans-shipment must be stopped.
* In Suva, Fiji's military rulers will resume talks with coup leader George Speight in a bid to end the four-week hostage crisis.
Former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and 30 others have been held captive since Speight launched his civilian coup on May 19.
Talks between Speight and the military ended nine days ago when Commodore Frank Bainimarama demanded that coup leaders free the hostages and surrender their guns.
In return, amnesty would be granted to Speight and six other key rebels.
A date for talks has not been set, and it is not known if any negotiations will be held before a Commonwealth delegation, including Foreign Minister Phil Goff, meets Commodore Bainimarama and the military council tomorrow.
George Speight talks to IRN's Barry Soper
(10 min).
