The Auckland Council's investment agency has urged Ports of Auckland to halt two wharf extensions, even if there's a cost from interrupting the project.
According to the protest group, this shows the harbour before the Bledisloe Wharf Extension. Photo: Facebook / Stop Stealing Our Habour
Mayor Len Brown has also urged the agency and the port company to speed up their discussions over the future of the project.
The boards of the council-owned Ports of Auckland and the council agency have begun what they call several weeks of talks over the future of the contentious lengthening of Bledisloe Wharf.
The agency, A-C-I-L, released a copy of the letter, which it sent the port company prior to yesterday's joint board meeting.
Chief executive Gary Swift strongly suggested no further physical work was carried out, until a wider study due to begin soon on the ports future has been completed.
Ports of Auckland said preparatory work on the wharf extensions was continuing and while no date has been set for the major works, that timing has nothing to do with the ongoing discussions.
Legal action to try to stop the extensions goes before the High Court next week, when the lobby group Urban Auckland seeks a judicial review of the legality of the resource consents.
Future of wharf unclear
Following a meeting yesterday Ports of Auckland said that talks about the planned wharf extension would continue.
Protesters at Auckland's Queens Wharf Photo: Facebook / Jacinda Ardern
Auckland councillors were surprised in February to learn the extensions were about to begin, even while the port's longer term-expansion plans were being debated.
Following yesterday's meeting, Ports of Auckland would say only that talks will continue.
Legal action to try to stop the extensions goes before the High Court next week, when the lobby group Urban Auckland seeks a judicial review of the legality of the resource consents.
Listen to more from Auckland correspondent Todd Niall