Ports of Auckland row damaging to economy

The Mari­time Uni­on says the Ports of Auck­land is too import­ant to the coun­try to be drawn into a loc­al power struggle.

May­or of Auck­land Wayne Brown today stated he was cur­rently work­ing on repla­cing the Board of POAL fol­low­ing pub­lic dis­agree­ments about the per­form­ance and future of the Ports.

Mari­time Uni­on Auck­land Branch Sec­ret­ary Rus­sell Mayn says it would be a mis­take to remove the cur­rent Board and a more con­struct­ive dis­cus­sion was needed.

“There are legit­im­ate dif­fer­ent views on the future dir­ec­tion of the Ports, but we can’t let its stra­tegic value to Auck­land and New Zea­l­and be dam­aged.”

He says that the cur­rent Board and Man­age­ment have engaged with the work­force and the Ports had a pos­it­ive future.

“There has been a new focus on good work­place rela­tions and a high­er qual­ity of health and safety skill sets on the cur­rent Board.”

This was reflec­ted in the recent improved per­form­ance of the Ports.

Mr Mayn says the Ports of Auck­land should not been viewed as simply a money mak­ing ven­ture in itself.

“While POAL can and will deliv­er returns to its own­ers, the people of Auck­land, it has a much great­er value in serving as the major import port of New Zea­l­and.”

Mr Mayn says the Ports are only just recov­er­ing from the mul­tiple hits of the failed auto­ma­tion pro­ject, COVID and glob­al ship­ping dis­rup­tions.

“The primary goal now should be sta­bil­ity and ensur­ing a secure sup­ply chain, which means we need to con­tin­ue the cur­rent pro­gress at the Ports of Auck­land.”