KEY POINTS:
More than 80 per cent of Auckland City residents feel their council should not sell its shares in the airport to a Middle East company.
The company - Dubai Aerospace Enterprise - is seeking a controlling stake in the airport and needs 75 per cent of shareholders to agree to the deal. Auckland and Manukau city councils own 23 per cent between them.
And a Herald-DigiPoll survey of 400 people in Auckland City sends an overwhelming message to the council.
Only 13.9 per cent thought the council should sell its shares to DAE, while 80.9 per cent said it shouldn't.
Mayor Dick Hubbard said yesterday he was not surprised by the results, and the council would listen to the views of Aucklanders before any decisions were made.
However, he was still expecting other offers for the airport and there were likely to be options around selling down as well as a complete sell-off.
"This isn't just about a Dubai-based company, it's whether we sell all or part of our shares," Mr Hubbard said.
"There are shades of grey, but we don't have a definitive proposal yet.
"There is no rush and we will wait until we have all the information and the views of the people before decisions are made."
The council has begun its own consultation on the sale of shares and expects to have the results by the end of next month.
Meanwhile, Manukau City Council says it will also consult Manukau residents on the Dubai proposal "and any other options that might eventuate as a result of current discussions".
The public will be invited to make submissions from mid-September.
"With the local authority elections in October, the new council will hear and consider the submissions and make a decision in early November, before the Auckland International Airport Ltd shareholder meeting in November," a spokesman said.
That November meeting will vote on whether the Dubai bid should go ahead.
But it is likely to face competition from at least three other suitors who are interested in the airport.
Macquarie Bank, Australia Pacific Airports Corporation and Canada Pension Plan all have teams on the ground in Auckland.
