Spotlight needs to go on Ports of Auckland privatization rumours

The Mari­time Uni­on is con­cerned about rumours of privat­iz­a­tion at the Ports of Auck­land, involving glob­al net­work ter­min­al oper­at­or (GNT) DP World leas­ing oper­a­tions.

The New Zea­l­and Her­ald today repor­ted claims the Dubai-based mul­tina­tion­al cor­por­a­tion has seni­or man­age­ment hold­ing upcom­ing meet­ings with Coun­cil staff and oth­er key play­ers in Auck­land.

Mari­time Uni­on Nation­al Sec­ret­ary Craig Har­ris­on says there is no need for dis­cus­sions, as the Ports have a great future as a pub­lic asset.

He says after a dec­ade of mis­man­age­ment, the Ports are now back on track to deliv­er to the people of Auck­land.

“The pre­vi­ous prob­lems of the Ports were not caused by pub­lic own­er­ship, but by lack of over­sight by the own­er and Board of the pre­vi­ous man­age­ment and their bad decisions.”

Mr Har­ris­on says it is not clear under whose author­ity Coun­cil staff are enga­ging with DP World.

He says the Uni­on is one of many stake­hold­ers dis­cuss­ing the role of the Ports with the new may­or of Auck­land Wayne Brown.

“There is already a con­struct­ive dis­cus­sion about the best way for­ward for the Ports, and to have these extra dis­trac­tions fly­ing around is not help­ful.”

Mr Har­ris­on says the Mari­time Uni­on sup­ports a con­tin­ued role for the Ports of Auck­land as a pro­duct­ive asset for Auck­landers and an essen­tial hub in New Zealand’s sup­ply chain.

He says the dif­fi­culty and cost in relo­cat­ing Port oper­a­tions is under­es­tim­ated.

“Main­tain­ing a secure sup­ply chain should be the num­ber one pri­or­ity for New Zea­l­and in the cur­rent volat­ile eco­nom­ic envir­on­ment.”

He says New Zea­l­and needs a long-term nation­al ports strategy that integ­rates rail and coastal ship­ping, with a focus on sup­ply chain resi­li­ence and low emis­sions.

Mr Har­ris­on says DP World do not have a great record, and is the own­er of P & O Fer­ries, whose sack­ing of ferry crews in the UK by text earli­er this year led to mass con­dem­na­tion from the Brit­ish pub­lic and even UK Gov­ern­ment MPs.

He says pre­vi­ous attempts to sell off the Ports of Auck­land failed, as did a 2006 attempt to part-privat­ize the Port of Lyt­telton with the involve­ment of the GNT Hutchis­on Port Hold­ings.

Mari­time Uni­on mem­bers make up the great major­ity of steve­doring work­ers at the Ports of Auck­land.

The Mari­time Uni­on has been a strong advoc­ate for health and safety at ports, and pre­dicted the failed auto­ma­tion pro­ject at the Ports of Auck­land was not fit for pur­pose.