Ports of Auckland under threat from secret SuperCity agenda

The Mari­time Uni­on says it is con­cerned about the inten­tions of the Gov­ern­ment towards Auck­land’s pub­lic assets under the pro­posed Super­City.

The uni­on rep­res­ents sev­er­al hun­dred work­ers at the Ports of Auck­land, which provides a major income to the people of Auck­land who own the port through the Auck­land Region­al Coun­cil.

Mari­time Uni­on Loc­al 13 Sec­ret­ary Rus­sell Mayn says there has been an ongo­ing “soften­ing up” cam­paign from big busi­ness interests to sell off the Ports of Auck­land so they can get their hands on them.

He says there is ser­i­ous cause for con­cern that the Super­City plan for Auck­land’s loc­al gov­ern­ment will be used to push for­ward privat­iz­a­tion of assets — includ­ing the port.

“Min­is­ter of Loc­al Gov­ern­ment Rod­ney Hide has made it very clear that he favours sell offs of the people’s assets which could see the ports along with land, infra­struc­ture and water as mono­pol­ies owned by over­seas cor­por­a­tions.”

The fact that these assets are region­al and loc­al assets, not state assets, provides an escape clause from the Prime Min­is­ter John Key’s prom­ise not to privat­ize any pub­lic assets in this term of the Gov­ern­ment.

Mr Mayn says the evid­ence shows the major­ity of Auck­landers are opposed to privat­iz­a­tion of loc­al assets.

“The Mari­time Uni­on will strongly advoc­ate for keep­ing pub­lic assets such as the Ports of Auck­land in pub­lic hands.”

He says the Mari­time Uni­on is sup­port­ing Auck­land MP Phil Twy­ford’s Loc­al Gov­ern­ment (Pro­tec­tion of Auck­land Assets) Amend­ment Bill and the “Not Yours To Sell” cam­paign to keep Auck­land’s pub­lic assets in pub­lic hands.