WASHINGTON: Most of Auckland’s small businesses would prefer Auckland’s port to be moved, according to research from MYOB. Debate over the location of the port has been raging for some time, with an Auckland Council study group preferring to shift the port to Manukau Harbour.
Auckland Council set up the Port Future Study last year following the row over Ports of Auckland’s plans to extend its Bledisloe cargo wharf into the Waitemata Harbour. More than half of the city’s small business owners surveyed by MYOB said they wanted another location for the port. Nearly a third wanted the port to remain where it was and 16 per cent said they did not know. Port of Tauranga was the most popular alternative location, followed by North Port in Whangarei, Manukau Harbour and Firth of Thames.
MYOB head of SME Ingrid Cronin-Knight said the location of the port was important to small business owners in Auckland. “It’s a vital piece of economic infrastructure. It’s important that the next mayor settles on a long term plan for its location that gives business owners confidence in the future.” Just under a third of Auckland business owners said they were dissatisfied with Auckland Council’s performance, while 49 per cent were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied.
