Harbour board looks at public company

Press, 18 June 1986, Page 2

Harbour board looks at public company

PA Wellington The Wellington Harbour Board yesterday considered proposals that, if implemented, would see the board replaced by a public company with control of Picton Harbour and Wellington Airport. The proposals were put forward by a board special committee, set up to consider a possible reworking of the Harbours Act. This act controls the working of New Zealand’s harbours. New legislation was hinted at by the Minister of Transport, Mr Prebble, in his address to the Harbours’ Association conference at New Plymouth in March. At a special meeting of

the Wellington Harbour Board on April 14, a committee was formed to prepare the board’s own views on the future of harbour legislation. The committee reported to the board yesterday in a private meeting. The committee favoured the formation of a public company, with limited Government shareholding. This, the committee believes, would give a genuine commercial approach to the running of the port, and remove any legislative or Governmental restraints at present binding the board. All existing Wellington Harbour Board land and

foreshore would pass into the hands of the company. This new company, the committee’s report says, could handle the affairs of the Marlborough Harbour Board and Wellington Airport. The Wellington board resolved in July, 1985, to explore possible further involvement with the running of Wellington Airport. More recently, the report says, the Government has clearly stated its intention to run airports as corporations. It is opportune, the committee believes, for any airport corporation to be owned and managed by the new Port of Wellington company.