Auckland’s Ngati Whatua Orakei Trust is keen to buy the city’s port, which has been valued at $1.1 billion
Trust spokesman Ngarimu Blair says it’s committed to building a consortium, which could include other iwi and a major super fund, to buy the council-owned Ports of Auckland.
Ngati Whatua Orakei had long hoped to buy back its former land and Waitemata seabed, he adds.
“We have made this known over many generations to every incoming mayor and, more recently, signalled this to Phil Goff before and after the election,” Blair says.
“If the opportunity arises we would like to buy it – we are the natural owner and we would do the right thing by the city.”
Auckland Council owns 100 per cent of Ports of Auckland and Ngati Whatua Orakei says the sale of the assets, most recently valued at $1.1 billion, would give the council money to spend developing the city.
It would also keep the port in Kiwi hands.
Ngati Whatua Orakei has a large asset base, built from its investments since its Treaty settlement with the Crown in 2011.
Mayor Phil Goff is known to be keen to address the port’s long-term future.
Media reports have speculated about whether the port should be relocated away from Auckland’s city centre and whether the council should sell off the port company and its lands, either as a package or separately.
