The Ports of Auckland will not be sold, but instead, the port has promised to give $1 billion in profits to the Auckland Council over the next ten years. A new agreement has been made where the port’s land, assets, and operations will remain under council ownership.
The Ports of Auckland CEO, Roger Gray, stated that returning Captain Cook Wharf and Marsden Wharf to the council would cost over $70 million. Auckland’s mayor, Wayne Brown, has also arranged for public access to parts of Bledisloe Wharf, where imported cars are unloaded, to be used as a shared space for the public and cruise ships.
Over the next three years, Gray said that they aim to make more than $100 million a year. This will be achieved through a combination of increased pricing and growing volumes. The peak access charge is expected to rise from $95 per container to about $295 in the next three years.
Gray also mentioned that the company is on track to make more than $52 million this year but needs to double its efforts. He said that the Ports had seen a double-digit growth in imports and exports in the last year and that they plan to continue this growth.
If the Ports do not meet their commitments, there are no penalties as it is a memorandum of understanding, not a contract. However, Gray assured that they are committed to delivering these numbers.
Grant Williams, the Maritime Union Auckland secretary, expressed relief that the mayor had changed his mind about selling the Ports. He said that the union was satisfied with the result, even though it took a lot of effort to achieve.
