Ports of Auckland calls in police

Media Release
Ports of Auckland Update

The Ports of Auckland has called in the Police this morning to protect staff, truckies and visitors to the Port who have been stopped and confronted by MUNZ Union members who formed picket lines at Port entrances early this morning.

Pickets were in place from 4am this morning in an attempt to stop marine crews arriving to work. This impacted a cruise ship and a container ship due to berth early this morning. The cruise ship is now due to berth shortly. However the container ship remains at anchor. Cruise ship operations are not in any way linked to the move to competitive stevedoring at the container terminal.

Pickets are across the road and blocking access at Fergusson Terminal, Tinley Street, Captain Cook, Princes Wharf, Wynyard Wharf. Police are on site and in discussion with picketers to clear the roads.

Several complaints from staff are being investigated after picketers forced cars to stop, demanded information about why occupants were entering the port, verbally abused occupants, photographed licence plates and, in one case, hit the car of a female staff member.

Ports of Auckland is urging Union leadership to take control of its members on the picket line to ensure that conduct on the picket line is lawful, to protect the safety of those who have a right to access the Port and to work. ENDS

Ports of Auckland Ltd is New Zealand’s most important port, handling around 894,000 TEU (20ft-equivalent units), more than 1,500 ship calls and 3.5 m tonnes of break-bulk (non-containerised) cargo per annum. It is New Zealand’s leading import port and a key partner to export and import industries, as well as New Zealand’s premier cruise port and vehicle import gateway. Ports of Auckland is 100%-owned by Auckland Council Investments Ltd.

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