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NZ First - Move Auckland port's vehicle ops to Northland

Posted on 30 August, 2017

Winston Peters has announced a plan for Ports of Auckland only this morning,  and charicteristically for the veteran politician, it has already received both sharp criticism and widespread coverage. In a speech being delivered to the Economic Development Agencies Conference today, New Zealand First called for legislation be introduced to move all container operations from the Port of Auckland to Northport by the end of 2027. Northport is situated at Marsden Point, near Whangarei. He also said he wanted to create special economic zones around Northport and Southport in Bluff, that come with tax free status. Peters is the MP for Northland, and says that the move will be beneficial to both Aucklanders and Northlanders. "Aucklanders want their harbour back while Northlanders want the jobs and opportunity that would come from Northport's transformation," Peters said. Peters focused on the appearance of the waterfront, noting that the large numbers of vehicles moving through the port each day made it look like a parking lot. Transport Minister Simon Bridges told RNZ’s Morning Report program this morning that forcing Ports of Auckland to move its operations north was a bad idea. "The problem with what Winston Peters is saying effectively is that he is saying 'I'm going to legislate for the freight to go to Northport', to pick that winner. And to my way of thinking that's a very heavy-handed way of doing things." David Vinsen, the chief Executive at Imported Motor Vehicle Industry Association (VIA) says that Peters is making promises he knows he can’t deliver on, and that the proposal is simply in the interest of getting headlines. “We know what he is suggesting regarding cars does not make sense economically, does not make sense environmentally, does not make sense logistically.” “What Winston’s done is what politicians in opposition do, they make promises they are not going to have to deliver on." Vinsen agrees that eventually the port may move, but it would be over the long term. “Over time there are going to be significant changes to the way the port operates, and probably where it operates from, but a politician making kneejerk populist promises to satisfy popular reaction is not the way to do it. Vinsen points to extensive studies carried out by Auckland Council’s Port Future Study and the NZIER that present in depth considerations on moving the port, and assess the full social, environmental and economic costs, all of which are large. He also dismissed Peters comments that the port was a "parking lot". "It's a working port, thousands of vehicles are moving through all the time."  Auckland Mayor Phil Goff says that no one party will determine the future of Auckland port on its own. "No decision will be made about the Auckland port unilaterally. "It would have to be made in negotiation with the Auckland Council on behalf of ratepayers, and this is an entity that returns us $60 million a year in dividends." Road Transport Forum Chief Executive Ken Shirley was also explicit in his condenmnation. “We have heard for a while now how enthusiastically interventionist New Zealand First is on the economy but legislating to force goods from one port to another is next level, it is pure Stalinism,” he said in a press release today. Ports of Auckland is owned by taxpayers and employed more than 600 people, and made $84m in profits last year.