Auckland waterfront workers and ratepayers "the ultimate losers"

Auckland port’s loss of a significant shipping service to the Port of Tauranga will ultimately hurt Auckland ratepayers and the city’s striking Maritime Union workers, says Auckland Chamber of Commerce head Michael Barnett.

He noted that as a result of Maersk’s decision to shift its service to Tauranga, the Ports of Auckland predicts that Auckland will lose 52 ship calls, 82,500 containers (123,600 TEU), and nearly $20m in revenue annually.

Regardless of whether Maersk’s decision is because of the possibility of further industrial unrest, the loss of $20 million revenue will reduce the Port’s profitability to Auckland rate payers, said Mr Barnett.

Long-term it will also mean less work for Auckland watersiders – “there go the jobs they were trying to protect.”

It shows the stupidity and folly of striking over small points of detail in a highly competitive world, said Mr Barnett.

Maersk provides a major import service which will now reach Auckland via Tauranga and the KiwiRail service to Metroport at Neilson St, observed Mr Barnett.