Ports of Auckland (POAL) Chair Jan Dawson has expressed disappointment in Mayor of Auckland Wayne Brown’s plan to replace the board of POAL following public disagreements about the performance and future of the ports.
In a statement posted to the POAL website, Dawson extended an invitation to the Mayor to visit the port and discuss its operations, economics and importance to the region.
He said: “The Mayor’s comments creates uncertainty for the 3,000 Aucklanders, whose livelihoods depend on the port, and also for the thousands of businesses in Auckland and surrounding areas that rely on imports and an efficient supply chain.”
POAL is New Zealand’s key import port and is one of the most economic and carbon efficient entry points for goods required by Aucklanders.
The Maritime Union of New Zealand is in support of the port, having stated that “the POAL is too important to the country to be drawn into a local power struggle”.
However, in recent years the port has not performed well from a safety, operational and commercial perspective.
This has changed in recent months, with throughput having improved by 30% since April 2022.
Dawson claimed that the board are confident that the port will meet and even exceed its statement of corporate intent profit targets for FY23-25 and return dividends of $30m per annum for FY23 and $50m per annum in the medium term.
Russell Mayn, maritime union Auckland branch secretary, said: “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 of New Zealand.”
He added that the POAL is only just recovering from the multiple hits of its 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 POAL.”
Dawson said that, at the Mayor’s request, the port has also commenced work on the examination of the use of the area between the Ferry Building and Bledisloe Wharf and will report this to the Mayor on March 31, 2023.
“There has been no reluctance in the past by the port to return the land to the community,” Dawson said. “Over the past 25 years we have returned 117 ha of land to Council. Any transfer needs to be economical and practical.”
