Tauranga Defiant Over Rival’s Ambitions
January 29th, 2009
The battle over Port of Tauranga’s container trade has further heated up with NZL being told in no uncertain terms by the port’s management it will never be able to operate a container terminal at the port. Port CEO, Mark Cairns, says transport and logistics firm NZL Group “never has and never will” operate a container terminal on his company’s land.
Cairns blunt statement comes after NZL claimed it had Ports of Auckland lined up as its major customer, and wants to accelerate the establishment of a container terminal at Tauranga after the port company told NZL its stevedoring services were no longer required. Cairns also disputes claims by NZL it has been kicked out of Port of Tauranga. “The facts are NZL gave us notice on Christmas Eve that the contract had expired.”
Stevedoring claim disputed. He also disputes NZL’s claim it has been chosen by shipping companies to supply more than half the stevedoring labour used in Tauranga. Cairns says he is not aware of any shipping lines looking to use NZL stevedoring services in Tauranga. Port of Tauranga cannot see how NZL can offer “cost-competitive” services to customers through Tauranga or improve efficiency of Port of Tauranga’s existing operations.
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