KEY POINTS:
The volume of containers handled by Ports of Auckland, seen as a leading indicator of the economy, fell in January from the same month a year ago.
The port handled 46,673 containers in January, down 4.7 per cent on the same month last year.
The figure was lower at 4.2 per cent on a measure of standard sized containers.
Fifteen cruise ships called in January and 24 are expected in February.