Labour Party's parliamentary, local body wings at odds over Ports of Auckland privatisation

Labour's parliamentary wing is strongly opposed to a Ports of Auckland sell-off, whereas some Labour councillors on Auckland Council are prepared to consider a sale. Photo / Jason Oxenham

The Labour Party's parliamentary and local body wing is taking different tacks on the privatisation of Ports of Auckland.

The parliamentary wing is strongly opposed to a sell-off, whereas some Labour councillors on Auckland Council are prepared to consider a sale of some or all of the $1 billion port company.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff, who promised to "Stop Asset Sales" as Labour leader during the 2011 general election, has ruled out selling the port company's land holdings but has not ruled out privatising part or all of the operating company.

If you go down this path you need to know there will be widespread public opposition and widespread corrosive cynicism and distrust in the leadership of the city

Mike Lee, Auckland councillor

Goff has begun high-level discussions on relocating the port from the city waterfront to free up the land for public access, saying the future of the port company cannot be determined until then.

On the election hustings last year, Goff campaigned on not selling key strategic assets. On the port, he said the port land should stay in public ownership and the operations should stay in council ownership pending long-term decisions on the future of the port.

Auckland councillor and Labour Party member Ross Clow, who chairs the powerful finance committee, said council had a duty to look at a split and sale of the port business "but I would never, ever consider selling a majority of the business".

Alf Filipaina, one of two Labour councillors representing the Manukau ward said: "I will be waiting to see what comes to council about any privatisation". His Labour colleague Efeso Collins said in principle he was opposed to the privatisation of Ports of Auckland.

Two other left-wing councillors, Mike Lee and Cathy Casey, are strongly opposed to privatisation of the port.

The position of some Labour councillors is at odds with Labour's MP for Te Atatu and Auckland issues spokesman Phil Twyford who said the party strongly opposes the sell-off to fix a short-term cash crisis.

Twyford blamed the crisis on the Government blocking the city's requests for new ways to fund infrastructure, including a regional fuel tax and road pricing.

Last night, a senior Labour Party source told the Herald that talk of selling the port was "not a good look" and could lead to a mass campaign similar to a successful protest against the privatisation of the port led by radio talkback host Pam Corkery in 1991.

Lee has written to Goff saying that separating the port land from the business was reminiscent of the corporatisation of Telecom prior to its privatisation.

"If you go down this path you need to know there will be widespread public opposition and widespread corrosive cynicism and distrust in the leadership of the city," Lee said.