Ports of Auckland chair Jan Dawson has taken issue with an allegation by new mayor Wayne Brown that the port is being tardy in responding to his drive for council savings, efficiencies and revenue improvements.
Dawson said the port company was “surprised” Brown said on Thursday the council “had yet to hear” from the council-owned port on what it planned for these three areas to deliver ratepayers a significant cash dividend in 2023-2024.
She said the port company had not yet been invited to meet the expenditure control committee from which Brown’s statement emanated.
Brown, who believed the dividend should be at least $30 million, made the claim in a media statement headed “Expenditure control committee to start work on $270m budget hole”.
The port has previously told the council its goal is to return the port annual dividend to the city to a level of $50m-plus.