Category: Port of Auckland

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Selling Port of Auckland would be “letting the vultures in”

Source: Maritime Union of New Zealand

The Maritime Union says ongoing uncertainty about the future of Port of Auckland is a threat to the economic stability of Auckland City and New Zealand.

The Mayor of Auckland is proposing two options – the sale of an operating lease of the Ports of Auckland (with proceeds going into a fund), or continued Council ownership of the Port with a gradual reduction in size.

The stated preferred option for the Mayor is privatisation – sale of a long term operating lease.

Maritime Union of New Zealand National Secretary Craig Harrison says the Port of Auckland must remain in public ownership.

Mr Harrison says there is danger of massive price hikes on freight if Port of Auckland was privatised, as recently happened in Australian ports operated by global port conglomerate DP World.

“It will be worse than the chickens coming home to roost if we hand over the port to an outfit like this – it will be the vultures coming home to roost.”

Mr Harrison says there is currently no feasible alternative to the Port of Auckland, with other ports operating at capacity, and lack of infrastructure to move freight to Auckland from other ports.

He says it is not realistic to shrink the Port without having a plan in place as how the growing quantity of freight will be handled.

“Any major changes to port location or the supply chain would be a multi-billion dollar, decades long process, requiring central and local Government co-ordination, including coastal shipping and rail links.”

“Put simply, the current value of the Port of Auckland as a trade gateway for the country far outweighs its value to the Council as a one off cash injection.”

Mr Harrison says according to polling carried out for the Maritime Union, a strong majority of Aucklanders oppose any sale of the Port, and elected representatives would be held to account if they went against the will of the people.

“There is no doubt Auckland City faces difficult decisions, but the sale of the port is not a solution.”

“The best approach is to maintain a steady course for the Port of Auckland as a profitable strategic asset for the people of Auckland.”

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Maritime Union statement on Gaza and Port protests

Source: Maritime Union of New Zealand

The Maritime Union of New Zealand says it supports the right of the community to take part in peaceful protests at ports and elsewhere.

Community protests are planned against Israeli-connected container ships at the Port of Auckland as international pressure mounts for a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict. 

The Contship Dax operated by ZIM Integrated Shipping has already been the focus of protest action in Australian ports last week and the ship will be calling in New Zealand ports in the next week, including Tauranga, Auckland and Lyttelton.

Maritime Union of New Zealand National Secretary Craig Harrison says the Union is backing international calls for a ceasefire in the Israel–Gaza conflict.

He says the Union endorses calls by Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins, the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, and the International Transport Workers Federation supporting a ceasefire and a political solution to the conflict.  

“The Maritime Union condemns any attacks on civilians, and we recognize the long standing political issues including the oppression of the Palestinian people that have contributed to the current catastrophe.”

Mr Harrison says protests at ports are occurring throughout the world and are likely to become more common as concern mounts at the rising death toll of civilians in Gaza.

He says the Maritime Union strongly opposes any form of religious or ethnic discrimination including anti-semitism or anti–Muslim prejudice.

“As a Union we are united as workers and support all efforts towards international solidarity, justice and peace.” 

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Does DP World dodge taxes? Port giant under spotlight

Source: Maritime Union of New Zealand

The multinational involved in the proposed privatisation of Port of Auckland is the subject of a new Australian report “Does DP World dodge taxes in Australia?”

The report is published by The Centre for International Corporate Tax Accountability and Research (CICTAR).

Key findings show DP World in Australia paid zero income tax in Australia over the last eight years, despite revenues of over $4.5 billion in that period.

DP World appears to have used complex methods to artificially reduce taxable income and shift income offshore, according to the report.

Maritime Union of New Zealand National Secretary Craig Harrison says Aucklanders should be watching closely what is happening with DP World across the Tasman.

Protected industrial action has recently taken place in Australian ports, with the Australian Council of Trade Unions last month calling on DP World to ‘return to good faith bargaining and abandon their attacks on hard working maritime workers in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Fremantle.’

“Selling a strategic asset and natural monopoly like Port of Auckland to a global operator like DP World would be leaving a vampire in charge of the blood bank.”

Mr Harrison says the disturbing record of DP World in Australia can be compared with the positive situation in Port of Auckland.

He says with new management working with the Union at the Port of Auckland, there have been rapidly improving returns for the people of Auckland.

“Why would we want to mess with this successful Port?”

The Australian tax report on DP World follows on from a report released in September 2023 by the Maritime Union of New Zealand that warned of major price hikes on freight going through a privatised Port of Auckland.

A poll released by the Maritime Union on 11 October showed an overwhelmingly majority of Aucklanders wanted the Port of Auckland kept in public ownership.