October 26, 2022
Time’s up for free Auckland Port real estate
Former New Zealand First MP Shane Jones says the future of Ports of Auckland will to require a wider effort than any action by new mayor Wayne Brown.
Mr Brown led a study instigated as part of New Zealand First’s coalition agreement with the previous Government that concluded much of the port’s freight operations should move to Northport in Whangarei.
Mr Jones says what was a robust study was undermined by government ministers, officials and former mayor Phil Goff, but the worm has turned.
“At a time there is congestion for all sorts of reasons in Auckland, surely the time has arrived for Tauranga and Northport and Auckland to come up with a rational solutions now that Wayne Brown is mayor I think there is every prospect we will now see movement and a solution there but he is right to serve notice on the car importers and all the others using it as free real estate,” he says.
Mr Jones says if New Zealand First is returned to parliament he will back moving the port.
Mayor Brown has told Ports of Auckland Limited to take immediate steps to achieve a more efficient use of port land and make more of it available for the public, and to work closely with Ngāti Whātua Orakei, in its role as mana whenua.