Northport wants to talk with the next Auckland Council about whether it can take some of the cargo heading to Ports of Auckland.
Auckland Council's development committee last week voted to refer the findings of the Port Future Study to the new council elected in October.
The study found that a new location was likely to be needed for the Auckland port which is facing growth constraints but in the interim there was a need to allow it to build extra berth space despite public opposition to further extensions into the Waitemata Harbour.
The study also said that Northport and Port of Tauranga were unable to handle the extra trade from Ports of Auckland and giving up parts of its business to other ports would mean a loss of revenue to the council. It found that in the long-term the port may relocate to Manukau Harbour or the Firth of Thames.
Northport chairman Sir John Goulter welcomed the decision to refer the matter to the next Auckland council, but called for further discussions to look at alternative solutions to growth issues faced by Ports of Auckland.