A growing battle over who controls Aotearoa’s strategic infrastructure is gathering momentum ahead of the November election, with new polling showing overwhelming support for public ownership of essential services and transport unions warning that selling the nation’s ports could put jobs, trade, economic security and community interests at risk.
The Maritime Union of New Zealand and the Rail and Maritime Transport Union are calling on political parties and local councils to protect public ownership of strategic port assets, following a nationwide survey showing 66 percent of New Zealanders support greater government ownership of essential infrastructure.
The Talbot Mills Research poll, commissioned by New Zealanders for a Democratic Economy, surveyed 1,010 adults between September 17 and 29.
It found 66 percent supported greater public ownership of assets such as ports, electricity companies and public transport, while 21 percent opposed the idea and 13 percent were undecided.
The survey also found 59 percent supported retaining government assets for their long-term income, compared with 31 percent who favoured selling some assets to reduce government debt.
The findings have strengthened calls from transport unions for a national commitment to protect ports, rail corridors and coastal shipping infrastructure from privatisation.
Unions Warn Ports Are Too Important to Sell
Maritime Union National Secretary Carl Findlay says ports are essential economic lifelines and their ownership must serve workers, communities and the wider economy.
The unions are pointing to a recent report from Parliament’s Transport and Infrastructure Committee, which recommended, by majority, that the Government support continued full or majority public ownership of strategic port assets.
Rail and Maritime Transport Union National President Aubrey Wilkinson says ports cannot be considered in isolation from the rest of the national freight network.
Rail connections, coastal shipping, road freight and port operations all form part of an interconnected system responsible for moving imports and exports around the country.
The unions argue that selling strategic assets could weaken public accountability and expose businesses and consumers to higher costs.
They point to Australia, where the competition regulator has identified record stevedoring prices and significant increases in terminal access charges at privatised ports.
For an island nation heavily dependent on international trade, decisions about port ownership have implications for exporters, importers, transport operators and the cost of goods reaching New Zealand households.
Māori Economy Has a Major Stake in the Debate
For Māori, the question of port ownership goes beyond whether strategic infrastructure should remain in public hands.
It also raises questions about Māori participation in governance, access to investment opportunities, the protection of coastal environments and the role of iwi and hapū in decisions affecting their rohe.
Māori enterprises are significant participants in export industries including forestry, fisheries, agriculture, horticulture and food production.
Those sectors depend on efficient ports, competitive freight costs and reliable connections to international markets.
Changes to port ownership, pricing or infrastructure investment could therefore have consequences for Māori-owned businesses and iwi commercial enterprises.
However, public ownership alone does not necessarily guarantee Māori participation in decision-making.
For mana whenua, the challenge is ensuring that decisions about port development, coastal infrastructure and environmental management recognise the interests of iwi and hapū, including their responsibilities as kaitiaki.
Pacific Blue Economy Shows Why Infrastructure Matters
The debate also connects to a wider conversation about the future of the Pacific’s blue economy and the infrastructure needed to support long-term regional prosperity.
Earlier Radio Waatea reporting highlighted a United Nations Development Programme analysis arguing that the Pacific’s economic future depends not only on ports, shipping routes and fisheries, but also on digital infrastructure, modern financial systems and more inclusive investment models.
The Pacific Ocean supports an estimated US$2.5 trillion blue economy, encompassing sustainable fisheries, tourism, marine transport, renewable energy and ocean-related industries.
The analysis argues that Pacific nations must modernise their financial and digital infrastructure to strengthen supply chains, improve economic resilience and ensure communities benefit from ocean-based development.
New financing approaches, including blue bonds, climate finance and blended investment models, are being explored to support sustainable growth while protecting marine environments.
For Aotearoa, the wider lesson is that ports are not simply commercial assets. They are part of an economic system connecting local communities, Māori exporters, Pacific economies and international markets.
Investment in modern port technology, digital logistics, coastal shipping and sustainable infrastructure could create opportunities for Māori businesses while improving the resilience of regional economies.
Election 2026: Public Assets Become a Political Battleground
With voters heading to the polls on November 7, public asset ownership is emerging as another significant election issue.
The Maritime Union and Rail and Maritime Transport Union are backing the National Keep Our Assets Pledge, which calls on political parties to retain public ownership and control of existing government assets and rule out coalition agreements allowing asset sales during the next parliamentary term.
The polling suggests the issue could influence voting decisions.
Some 44 percent of respondents said a political party’s commitment to ruling out asset sales would make them more likely to give that party their party vote, while 19 percent said it would make them less likely.
The survey also found majority support for greater public ownership among voters from all political parties, including supporters of the current governing coalition.
However, the poll was commissioned by an organisation advocating greater public ownership, and the results should be considered alongside the wider debate about infrastructure funding, investment needs and economic efficiency.
Supporters of private investment argue that additional capital and commercial expertise can help finance infrastructure upgrades, while opponents warn that private ownership can prioritise financial returns over public accountability and affordability.
Who Controls the Infrastructure That Drives Our Economy?
The debate is particularly relevant as Aotearoa considers how to finance the infrastructure needed to support future economic growth.
Ports, railways, shipping networks and digital systems require substantial ongoing investment.
For Māori and Pacific communities, the question is not simply whether those investments are made by government or private businesses, but who has a voice in the decisions, who carries the costs and who receives the benefits.
That includes the potential for stronger Māori participation in infrastructure governance, investment partnerships, sustainable coastal development and the growth of the wider blue economy.
As the election campaign enters its final weeks, political parties are being challenged to explain their positions on public ownership and the future of strategic infrastructure.
For Māori communities, the debate ultimately comes down to more than ownership. It is about rangatiratanga, economic opportunity and ensuring the ports, shipping networks and coastal resources that underpin Aotearoa’s prosperity continue to deliver benefits for future generations.
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