Stadium 'would increase cost of imported cars'

The cost of used cars would jump by several hundred dollars if the proposed Auckland waterfront stadium goes ahead, the motor industry said today.

The proposed stadium would "massively disrupt" the flow of imported vehicles into Auckland port, said the chief executives of the Independent Motor Vehicle Dealers Association and the Motor Industry Association said in a joint statement.

"Car buyers could expect to pay hundreds of dollars more a vehicle if the waterfront stadium proceeds, because of the disruption to the trade and increased transport costs. It will probably also result in delays for buyers," the statement said.

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In a typical year, around 150,000 new and used vehicles were discharged onto wharves at Ports of Auckland for processing by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, before being trucked to a compliance workshop or new vehicle storage facility.

"Usually, the vehicles only stay on the wharves for a short time but in some cases, where extra cleaning is required, it can be up to five days," the statement said. "The wharf space is essential for the vehicle imports and good biosecurity practice."

The CEOs said if the stadium went ahead, the wharves would be unavailable for vehicle imports once piling started in May.

They said: "We cannot see how car imports can be imported at current volumes through the Ports of Auckland during the construction phase of the stadium, and possibly not even afterwards."

Importers and shipping lines would have to consider other options such North Port near the Marsden Point refinery and the Port of Tauranga.

- NZPA

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