24 Apr 2015

Swift response sought from port company

1:52 pm on 24 April 2015

Auckland councillors and senior legal advisors will meet on Tuesday, in the latest twist in the stand-off with its port company.

The two sides of the Bledisloe Terminal (foreground) will be built 98 metres further into the harbour, with the port later hoping to reclaim the space between them.

Auckland Port wants to extend the Bledisloe Terminal (foreground). Photo: SUPPLIED / Ports of Auckland

This follows a Radio New Zealand interview today in which Ports of Auckland chair Graeme Hawkins said the company was standing by its intention to extend two wharves into the harbour.

Mayor Len Brown said he would be conveying his disappointment to Mr Hawkins, that the debate over the wharf extensions was being played out in the media.

The council has been waiting for nearly a month, for its port company to formally respond to a request to halt the extensions until a wider port study is carried out.

The mayor said he had now asked for that response by Tuesday.

Mr Brown said there would be a closed door discussion with councillors on Tuesday, involving senior legal and governance advisors, and any decisions needed, would be made at Thursday's council meeting.

In this morning's interview Mr Hawkins said the board had seven or eight legal opinions, supporting the directors obligations to act in the best interests of the port company, rather than the best interests of the owner.

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs