NZ Productivity criticism refuted

Responding to criticism the country has too many ports and the sector is over-invested, Mr O’Keeffe said the sector needed to be viewed through a wider lens than just cargo movements and returns.

“Hundreds of millions of dollars have been invested in port infrastructure to support that growth and the increase in the number of container ports can be seen as a positive market response to a critical need,” he said.

“Any report on the sector needs a section on risk and supply chain security and how we mitigate it as a nation. Productivity and cost count for little if you cannot get your product to market.

“More pertinent to our success is what is needed in order to be productive in 20 years’ time.”