Ports of Auckland: City councillors defend port company

Several councillors have leapt to the defence of Ports of Auckland, the council-owned company facing public and political pressure to halt work on two new wharf extensions into the Waitemata Harbour.

Councillors George Wood, Calum Penrose and Linda Cooper yesterday praised the company's performance during a discussion on the council's powers in relation to the port.

Mr Wood, who has supported halting work on the wharf extensions until a wider study of the ports is done, said the port company had made a remarkable turnaround in productivity and financial returns, which he said had risen from 3 per cent to 11.5 per cent, or $66 million in the latest financial year.

The port company has said the wharf extensions are necessary to accommodate larger ships and create more useable space, with board chairman Graeme Hawkins warning of reduced dividends if shipping lines decided on another route.

Mr Penrose said the port was taking the region forward immensely and the council needed to be working side-by-side with the company.

But councillor Chris Darby, who has led the fight on the council against the wharf extensions and further harbour reclamation for port use, said while the port had succeeded financially it had a long way to go in terms of its social and environmental objectives.

Adviser Alastair Cameron told the council-controlled organisations governance and monitoring committee that while the council owned the port company, the company operated at arm's length from the council, which limited the council's powers.