Stick to port plan

I believe that it is no coincidence that a $10,000 report by the Business Chamber of Auckland follows a $2 million report favouring the Manukau Harbour as the next replacement for the Port of Auckland. The Manukau solution was easily rubbished for practical reasons, but the Firth of Thames should be equally rubbished for environmental reasons. This is an extremely sensitive area with breeding seabirds, many of them migratory, a vast ecosystem of sea life and some aquaculture.

Unfortunately, I suspect a lot of wealthy vested interests want the latter option despite the risks. Building road and rail links from Pokeno would ruin this wonderful coastline, and ships are a large risk to any environment. We need to keep to the original “Upper North Island Supply Strategy” report by the Ministry of Transport.

Niall Robertson, Balmoral