Whanganui's mayor wants the city's port closed, possibly privatised, and turned into a marina for pleasure boats.
The Wanganui District Council has bought out the city's port company to end a long-runing legal dispute and regain control of publicly-owned former harbour board land.
Mayor Michael Laws on Tuesday announced the council will pay $2.75 million for River City Port's assets and its perpetual lease signed two decades ago.
Mr Laws says the port is not commerically viable and hopes it will be developed into a marina, perhaps by a private buyer.
