Many Northlanders know that "rail link/lines" and "deepwater port" are important words.
But apart from politicians and port aficionados, have we ever really understood why?
Right now, though, "rail link/lines" and "deepwater port" are exciting words in this region. And for a simple reason.
Jobs, through a transfer ofwork from Auckland to Northland. The industrial dispute at the country's biggest port in Auckland has gotten so ugly that both parties - the Maritime Union and the Ports of Auckland - appear to have gone beyond the point of no return in terms of their respective stances.
The union is fighting for its survival - the port is refusing to back down to the union. There is more being argued here than the negotiation of a contract to two parties' satisfaction - the power and future of unions in this country is at stake.
The parties say they want to resolve the issue, but in the meantime ships are having to find alternative ports. Which is where Northport comes in. Currently, Northport is cursed with an obtuse "chicken and egg" conundrum. It is a deepwater port which needs more incoming work - but won't get that work unless there is a rail upgrade. The powers that be say there will be no rail upgrade unless there is more work coming through the port. Which is where Ports of Auckland comes in.
Bring the freight to Northland - a deepwater port - and ship it South via rail. Or North even.
Former Northland Port Corporation chairman Mike Daniel is offering up a concept which would see Ports of Auckland sell waterfront land, pull out of container work and send it North, with a financial investment and interest in Northport.
It would certainly sort the current Auckland port dispute out. Without sounding too crass about it, simply shut the Auckland work down and bring it to a region that needs it. Northlanders should not be shy about benefiting from another city's loss - that is the hard reality of business sometimes. Politicians, port experts: How do we make this excellent idea happen?
