John Banks, Coke make peace

By MATHEW DEARNALEY

Auckland City Mayor John Banks claims to have made peace with Coca-Cola Amatil after accusing the soft-drink giant of using bullying tactics to oppose a recommended highway route through its property.

The Herald yesterday published details of a Coca-Cola letter to Mr Banks in which the company vowed to oppose the route of the $4 billion eastern highway "by all means at our disposal", and suggested it may move its bottling plant from Auckland.

Mr Banks said he got the letter at 11am yesterday - after reading about it in the Herald - but would not be intimidated "by Coca-Cola or anyone else threatening to bully us".

Coca-Cola general manager George Adams would not discuss the letter yesterday. But the mayor's office called the Herald later to say Mr Banks had phoned Mr Adams for a "friendly" discussion that ended with no animosity between them.