Transfer of port shifts up a gear

Inquiry process under way, write Susan Edmunds and Ellen Read.

Government ministers are considering the terms of reference for an official inquiry into moving Ports of Auckland operations to Whangarei.

NZ First campaigned on the idea and the study was a key part of its coalition deal with Labour.

The terms of reference are understood to involve a greater role for rail, ensuring New Zealand has better negotiating leverage with international shipping companies, and NZ First’s commitment to a structure that would stop direct competition between the New Zealand ports, instead encouraging more co-operation.

The choice of chairman has yet to be discussed, so the inquiry terms of reference are unlikely to be finalised before Christmas. It is understood that several people have been appointed to be part of the inquiry board, and Ports of Auckland is lobbying to have its interests represented on the board.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff and Regional Economic Development Minister Shane Jones met to discuss the inquiry on Friday morning.

It comes six weeks after Goff wrote a letter demanding the inquiry consider national, regional and Auckland interests.

Jones has been given oversight of KiwiRail, which gives him power over decisions about the railway line that would serve the Whangarei port.

The port is worth about $50 million a year to the Auckland Council, and although Goff has said it will have to move from the Auckland CBD eventually, he

Whatever happens in the future with the port needs to have a strong business case behind it. Auckland Mayor Phil Goff

would like to see it remain greater Auckland.

Goff would not get into detail about the meeting with Jones, only saying they discussed broad terms of reference.

‘‘I expressed my expectation that whatever happens in the future within with the port needs to have a strong business case behind it and be evidence-driven. We need to be looking at how the ports – Northport, Auckland and Tauranga – could best work together and what the infrastructure requirements are,’’ Goff said.

The inquiry was not ideologically driven and he and Jones were both prepared to consider options. ‘‘We’re not going into it with a conclusion and working backwards.’’

Goff also noted that any decision about the future of the port was an important financial investment decision for the people of Auckland.

Northport and Ports of Auckland refused to comment. Northport is already working through its own expansion plans.

Jones said: ‘‘I accept there is a measure of scepticism around yet another review about our ports. What I want to emphasise is it will not be a Clayton’s review. It has to be fair to the stakeholders of Port of Tauranga, Ports of Auckland and Northport.

‘‘But this is a Government that had put in its coalition agreement that there would be serious consideration going to a more enhanced role of Northport in relation to Ports of Auckland.’’

Jones said he would ensure KiwiRail was involved in discussions about the port move.

He said Treasury was still undertaking an analysis of the role KiwiRail would play in the transport network, alongside rail corridor owner the NZ Railways Corporation.