Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has unveiled a vision to turn the city’s working port into a sophisticated waterfront playground for the public – with the possibility wharves and land could be handed over for the project within five years.
Councillors have been meeting behind closed doors to discuss possible options for the land that largely belong to Ports of Auckland – which in turn is owned by the council – but is operated independently.
Brown says a revamped waterfront could include an urban beach or a tidal pool where people could actually touch the water, an amphitheatre and an international event and exhibition venue and a te ao Māori centre, and has promised public consultation.
Planning advice to councillors puts the focus for possible initial steps on the central city wharves: Queens Wharf, Captain Cook Wharf, Marsden Wharf, and the Hobson Wharf extension, with Bledisloe Wharf to follow, the council said in a statement.
Handing both wharves back was doable, and port operations would then intensify on Bledisloe Wharf. But before Bledisloe Wharf could also be handed over, Ports of Auckland would need a new wharf and a new vehicle handling facility built. 
Ports of Auckland chief executive Roger Gray Photo: Supplied/ Ports of Auckland
Those could be build and ready for Ports operation within five years, he said, “subject to consenting and approvals”. He estimated the new Port facilities could cost up to $100m: “And if that’s the cost we need to invest then we’ll be looking to recover that from customers.”
Ports of Auckland had been involved in discussions with council and its planning agencies since early in the project, and redeveloping the waterfront was “an exciting vision”, he said.
“Over a significant time I’m sure that that’s what we’ll have for the forefront of Auckland – but not in the short term.”
But fast decisive action to “lock down” the plans and provide certainty would be the best way to minimise disruptions to ongoing trade while customers were ‘inevitably’ uncertain about the future.
Auckland Council is discussing plans to develop Ports of Auckland land “for the enjoyment of all Aucklanders and provide better access to the harbour”. Photo: Auckland Council/ Eke Panuku – Nick McKay
What council says about the initial briefings on the project
Wayne Brown and the council’s governing body were briefed behind closed doors this week from a preliminary feasibility study on the possibilities for land release to make way for the project as well as options for redevelopment and commercial opportunities.
In a statement, Brown said there were ways the land could be made available within the next two to five years without undermining the port’s operations.
“I have strong public support for getting more public access to the harbour … I want us to deliver to Auckland the most beautiful and loved publicly owned waterfront of any harbour city in the world, and this is a first step”.
While the council’s “ownership objectives” around the project would remain confidential for now, a “significant public consultation process” was planned before any other progress would go ahead.
“I am still opened minded about the best solution and am genuinely interested in hearing what councillors, the Maritime Union and users of the Port and Aucklanders think about it,” Brown said.
Independent advisors Flagstaff Partners, GHD Engineering, and council-controlled development agency Eke Panuku are working on the project for Auckland council.
Reactions mixed so far
Aucklanders have shown mixed reactions to the proposed vision for the supercity’s waterfront.
While some Aucklanders told RNZ they looked forward to a new look for the harbour, others said they were not impressed. 
Shortly after gaining office mayor Wayne Brown asked Ports of Auckland to make more of its waterfront land available for the public. Photo: 123RF
Aucklander Kolh Parkinson said he was worried about disruptions to freight and imports.
“It’s going to increase our logistic problems that we already have, especially with importing goods from overseas, if they want to improve the ports then they probably need to improve everything else first,” he said.
Secondary teacher Rebecca said the investment did not make sense: “It’s quite ironic to consider an entertainment centre down on the port, given that it’s going to be under water soon if we do nothing about climate change”.
She said the project was a waste of money and the justifications for the spending were not clear.
“I’d be interested to know in what way this really serves the interest of Aucklanders, and the needs that most Aucklanders feel are the most pressing right now,” she said.
Others said the changed harbour could be an attraction for the city.
Yvonne McLaren said she looked forward to it. It would bring in tourism and be a play area for Aucklanders.
“That would be fantastic for more of a cultural and visitor focus down on the waterfront like other cities, for instance San Francisco,” she said.
But the Maritime Union said the future of the Ports of Auckland had financial implications for all Aucklanders, and the plans should be a wider public debate, which should include discussions on a wider ports strategy.
Its national secretary Craig Harrison said many businesses in and beyond Auckland relied on the port.
He was also worried about council considering selling the lease of the port, and how this could increase freight costs.
“There needs to be a real conversation about a port strategy for the upper North Island and the region, and how does that tie into becoming carbon neutral in our freight tasks … so having an ad hoc debate or decision on one little port, which is the port of Auckland, will have a massive effect,” Harrison said.