OCEANIA

NZ port plan calls resurface

14 years ago

Green Party transport spokesperson Julie Anne Genter says the Government needs to develop a national ports strategy so ports, which are majority or wholly-owned by local bodies, stop under-cutting each other.

“Expensive investments in port facilities and supporting road and rail networks are made only for them to sit idle when shipping companies cut a better deal with other ports,” she says.

“New Zealand ends up with wasted investments and higher overall export costs, while the foreign-owned shipping companies benefit from lower port fees.”

The call has been backed by Rail and Maritime Transport Union general secretary Wayne Butson who says a “boom and bust” business cycle will otherwise continually plague the country’s ports.