Ports protest: 'Hands off the harbour'

The protest, organised by Stop Stealing Our Harbour, will march from Quay St to the Viaduct Events Centre. Photo / Jason Dorday

A large protest march against wharf extensions at Ports of Auckland has vowed to continue the fight to save the Waitemata Harbour for future generations.

More than 1000 people marched from the port gates in Quay St to the Viaduct Events Centre today, waving banners and chanting "hands off the harbour".

At the events centre several speakers, including councillors Chris Darby and Chris Fletcher, said they were not going away, hiding or compromising on the issue.

Mr Darby said Mayor Len Brown and a group of councillors who formed a slim majority voted for a compromise last Thursday.

The names of those who supported a compromise - Mr Brown, deputy mayor Penny Hulse, Arthur Anae, Bill Cashmore, Alf Filipaina, Linda Cooper, Calum Penrose and Sharon Stewart were read out individually to loud boos.

Those councillors opposed to a compromise - Mr Darby, Mrs Fletcher, Cameron Brewer, Cathy Casey, Ross Clow, Mike Lee, John Watson and George Wood - were cheered.

The compromise followed a last-minute offer by Ports of Auckland to stop extending the western end of Bledisloe Wharf by 92m into Waitemata Harbour, pending completion of a port future study by April 30 next year.

Although a council staff report said that would address a number of community concerns, especially around sight lines from Queens Wharf, it means work can continue on a 98m extension from the wharf's eastern end.

Councillors opposed to compromise accused the port company of arrogance in taking four weeks to respond to a unanimous resolution of the city development committee, calling for it to stop all work pending the strategic study.

Stop Stealing Our Harbour spokesman Michael Goldwater said: "What we are getting a is compromise of the Waitemata Harbour. I want to hand the Waitemata Harbour down to future generations intact."

Rangimarie Hunia, of Ngati Whatua, said the harbour was a taonga(treasure) that was sacred for everybody.

"Let us unite and stand up for what is right," she said.

Other speakers, including businessman Tenby Powell and yachting commentator Peter Montgomery, called for better planning between the ports of Auckland, Tauranga and Northland.

Labour MP Jacinda Ardern said it was an "absolute sham" for ports to build one half of a structure - the eastern wharf extension - and wait for there to be a report on whether or not it was a good thing before the second extension was built.

"Auckland Council has said it was swallowing a dead rat, but they own the dead rat. It is absolutely within their power to call a halt to all of this until they fully understand the impact it will have on this harbour, on this city, on this environment and on you," she said.

An earlier protest against the wharf extensions on March 22 attracted about 2000 people to Queens Wharf and a flotilla of about 300 boats to the harbour in support.