Private plan to save ports

With the current situation that the Auckland Council finds itself regarding the financial shortfall from its revenue quarters, it is time to review its decision regarding the Ports of Auckland ownership.

Following on from the Ports of Tauranga model, the Auckland Council could sell off 50 per cent of the port to private interests, introducing commercial disciplines to the port.

In so doing, the council would be in a much more advantageous financial position than it finds itself in now, where the only way out that it can see is to increase rates to the poor suffering ratepayers who are experiencing their own financial issues.

If this were to be handled correctly, the council could increase current revenue, receive a substantial amount of money for the shareholding sold to relieve the Auckland ratepayers of their burden and expose the PoA to rigorous financial disciplines.

To my mind, the only stumbling block to this outcome is the issue of financial support given to the Labour-backed council by unions involved in Auckland industries.