KEY POINTS:
Auckland MPs from across the political spectrum are backing Aucklanders' call for more access to the city's waterfront.
New Lynn MP David Cunliffe, the Immigration and Communications Minister, urged Ports of Auckland to "move quickly" to open up the waterfront "and create a showpiece for the city and the nation".
"Clearly there is a groundswell of approval for action and as a local MP I will do what I can to assist."
Long-time National MP Clem Simich, formerly MP for Tamaki and now on the party's list, said the ports company should have its ownership of the area removed and be made to use it more efficiently.
Parts of the waterfront should be opened to the public within five years.
It was "appalling" the way the company talked about "its port".
"It should do as it's told, and if I was in Government, I would tell it."
Maungakiekie Labour MP Mark Gosche said the ports company had taken over land at Pikes Point in Onehunga as a storage site for the thousands of used cars imported every year.
But the downtown wharves were still being used to store the cars.
"I'd like to see ports shifted out to Onehunga as much as possible as they were proposing," he said.
"We have to have a working port, and we can't jeopardise that, but some time - certainly within the next year or so - some firm decisions should be made so we can get on with what timeframe we are talking about."
Green Party MP Keith Locke floated the idea of cross-party talks between Auckland MPs to pressure the city's local bodies to act sooner than planned over development of the waterfront. The current timetable is between 10 and 25 years.
It was time Queens Wharf became something other than a "carpark", Mr Locke said.
"It seems to me it wouldn't be that hard to shift the cars and we could get significant change within another year."
National's North Shore MP, Wayne Mapp, agreed.
"It's time for Aucklanders to reclaim their city," he said.
"They might not have wanted a stadium, but they certainly want the port opened up."
National MPs Richard Worth, Pansy Wong and Paul Hutchison want some development to be ready for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Mr Hutchison supported a "modest" upgrade of Eden Park and spending the money saved on the downtown area.
Mr Worth said there could be no interference with port activities.
"But it seems to me the natural thing would be to have a whole lot of infrastructure in place by 2011."
Phil Goff, Minister of Defence and Labour's Mt Roskill MP, said the waterfront should be an area where Auckland celebrated its connection to the sea.
We asked Auckland's MPs what they thought should happen on the waterfront. Here are their suggestions:
DR JACKIE BLUE
National, List
"I think there should be spaces where people can walk and just enjoy the view. I think we have to make the most of the ambience we have got. I don't support big shopping complexes, just some eating places and spaces where people can relax."
CHRIS CARTER
Labour, Te Atatu
"I have no idea what should be done. If you asked me about the Hauraki Gulf islands I might."
JUDITH COLLINS
National, Clevedon
"I don't want to see a great big fat concrete structure that blocks the waterfront, I'd like to see a park, low rise apartments, retail, a mix of things. I'd like to see any money to develop the waterfront make good use of public and private partnerships."
PHIL GOFF
Labour, Mt Roskill
"I think it's a scandal that we have wharves on which sit second-hand imported cars behind big fences when this is an asset that should be opened up for the people of Auckland to enjoy."
MARK GOSCHE
Labour, Maungakiekie
"I would like to see Ports shifted as much as they can out to Onehunga which they were proposing. They took over the airfield at Pikes Point to store used vehicles and I want to see that pushed along. We have to have a working port, but some time - certainly in the next year or so - decisions need to be made."
ANN HARTLEY
Labour, List
"I think people find it quite galling that Princes Wharf could be opened for a hotel and apartments, but no one got on with making other wharves available to the public. The Auckland Regional Council and Auckland City Council have got the message - they should get the process of opening up the waterfront started now."
DAVID CUNLIFFE
Labour, New Lynn
"I have long believed that the current Queen's Wharf and surrounds do not have the appeal of Sydney, or Wellington for that matter. This used car lot appearance flies in the face of the city's and the region's vision for the future. This cannot be sustainable as a shop window for New Zealand's premier city."
PAUL HUTCHISON
National, Port Waikato
"I support a more modest approach to investment in Eden Park. It's right and proper that taxpayer funding goes into a well thought-out Auckland waterfront ... because Auckland is the country's economic capital and deserves a waterfront development that is excellent in every way."
KEITH LOCKE
Green Party, List
"Queens, Marsden and Captain Cook Wharves don't seem to be much more than carparks. It seems to me it wouldn't be that hard to shift the cars, and we could get significant change in another year."
WAYNE MAPP
National, North Shore
"It's time for Aucklanders to reclaim their city. The public might not want a stadium but they certainly want the port opened up."
MURRAY McCULLY
National, East Coast Bays
"There's a lot of work to go into how [to develop the waterfront]. Obviously if you look at world-class cities with the natural assets of Auckland, they all take some care about that. I've been pushing for ferry transport to Browns Bay from Auckland for some time."
PITA PARAONE
NZ First, List
"I would certainly like to see some commercial development down there other than the ports, I think that at some time we'll see ports move out of the region."
ALLAN PEACHEY
National, Tamaki
"It would be good to see the waterfront opened up more than it is at the moment. But that has to be balanced with the needs of the port company."
RODNEY HIDE
Act, Epsom
"You have to work in with Ports, but it's a fabulous bit of real estate and the front door to the city. My only worry is that the Auckland City Council has already made a pig of the waterfront, and its concepts of architecture and design and city planning are truly woeful."|
MAURICE WILLIAMSON
National, Pakuranga
"Responsibility lies with the Auckland Regional and Auckland City councils, but I think the waterfront has to be opened up to the public for entertainment, theatre, apartments and all sorts of things."
LYNNE PILLAY
Labour, Waitakere
"My position is the same as probably the majority of people who want to see the waterfront used to its maximum capacity for Aucklanders to enjoy. I think any development has to be something that complements the area, so it's used not just for Aucklanders but for all Kiwis and international visitors."
CLEM SIMICH
National, List
"The ports company should have the land taken off it immediately and the waterfront should be opened up to the public within five years. The fence should be taken down and Ports told to move east or get out of there altogether. They could get the same turnover operating on a quarter of the space they occupy now."
MARYAN STREET
Labour, List
"I think allowing people, rather than used cars and empty containers, to use that beautiful part of the harbour would be wonderful for Auckland. I would like it to be opened up in a way that gave access to people so they could enjoy a whole range of facilities and activities including walking, fishing, roller-blading and public artwork."
JUDITH TIZARD
Labour, Auckland Central
"We spent the best part of $320 million as a nation on Te Papa, so I'm very happy to see a similar sort of investment in Auckland. I just have to convince a few of my colleagues, but that's where I'd start."
PANSY WONG
National, List
"I think Aucklanders want something really exciting, but not in terms of height intrusion. I don't see why the public can't be asked their views on design - we can't bully or superimpose ideas on Aucklanders."
RICHARD WORTH
National, List
"There must be no impact on the port company's activities, but it should be developed in a way that allows public access. I would like to see the infrastructure in place by 2011. It seems to me it would be the natural thing to have the development in place by then."
