No to privatisation – keep Port of Lyttelton in our ownership

The Mari­time Uni­on has repeated its warn­ings that the Christ­ch­urch City Coun­cil should not privat­ise key assets includ­ing the Port of Lyt­telton.

Port privat­iz­a­tion would have neg­at­ive out­comes for the City, says MUNZ Lyt­telton Branch Sec­ret­ary Les Wells.

The rate­pay­ers and cit­izens of Christ­ch­urch should con­tin­ue to organ­ise against the asset sales pro­gramme, he says.

The Mari­time Uni­on took a lead­ing role in the cam­paign against the part privat­iz­a­tion of the Port of Lyt­telton in 2006.

In the 2006 case the port deal was being pro­moted by a right wing May­or and coun­cil, but in the cur­rent situ­ation the Uni­on was con­cerned the sell off was being pro­moted by the cur­rent May­or, a former Labour MP.

Privat­isa­tion of ports inter­na­tion­ally have often led to poor out­comes, loss of con­trol and loss of income for com­munit­ies.

The Port is the major asset for the City of Christ­ch­urch, says Mr Wells.

“Work­ers will not let their assets built by gen­er­a­tions of labour be pawned off for short-sighted gains.”

Mr Wells says the Uni­on was firmly opposed to asset sales and would cam­paign against both loc­al and nation­al politi­cians who were push­ing privat­iz­a­tion.