Ports vision is long-term plan
Whatever you think of NZ First’s leader Winston Peters’ manifesto, his idea this week to move Ports of Auckland northwards, to free up the city’s waterfront, is a visionary one in this general election’s collection of ‘‘doing the do’’ policies.
A young, growing country needs long-term thinking and some bold moves. Whether or not moving to Northland would be a good thing or not once the due diligence is carried out, it shows some joinedup thinking about how the country as a whole - and different industrial and commercial sectors - might benefit from each other by having breathing space to grow.
I’m reminded of this every day of the working week, as I head up the northern highway out of the city, where the motorway has been allowed to narrow to two lanes towards one of the fastest growing residential areas of Auckland and New Zealand. I ask myself all the time ‘what were they thinking?’
Did infrastructure planners believe the population was going to stay the same? Did they believe city dwellers would fall out of love with their cars? And so residents and businesses complain about the traffic and logistical delays.
Auckland’s harbour front is one of the country’s greatest assets, and as an ex-pat myself, I know it’s something that Kiwis take for granted - in the nicest possible way. There’s so much beauty around in this country, it’s easy to get anaesthetised to it.
But we would be missing a trick if that wasn’t exploited to its fullest advantage in attracting travellers, but also to have half a chance to create some ‘wow’ factor with arts and sports showpieces to enhance the lives of ordinary Kiwis - that would definitely be the ideal.
A redistribution of important commercial activity and jobs is good for the economy.
We have a chance now to make sure more benefit from success. Clustering industry around just one or two centres is an oldfashioned approach and a recipe for even greater inequality.