News and events
August 2010
EXPORTERS FAVOUR TAURANGA
The Port of Tauranga is welcoming a report from the New Zealand Shippers' Council calling for it to become New Zealand's North Island hub port. The council is an association of major cargo owners (both importers and exporters) accounting for more than half of New Zealand's total annual exports. The council says Port of Tauranga is the logical choice to be the first to make the investment to accommodate larger ships that are becoming the trend in international shipping.
The report says Port of Tauranga is the only North Island port capable of making the required investment. Port of Tauranga's investment to cater to large ships is $50-80m, compared with $200m for Auckland to have comparable capability. The Ports of Auckland is also hampered by a politicised decision-making process as it is 100% owned by Auckland Regional Holdings.
"It is time for New Zealand to make some tough decisions on infrastructure investment to ensure that our exporters remain competitive globally," says Port of Tauranga chief executive Mark Cairns. "We congratulate the Shippers Council on their analysis and recommendations, which give the sector a robust, objective report on which to base future discussion and investment decision-making.”
