Importers are switching their business to Port of Tauranga from Ports of Auckland, citing the industrial dispute that has already caused exporter Fonterra to shift its business from Auckland to other ports.
The wrecked Rena is not far off the coast of Tauranga and debris and oil from it continue to drift in the area but port authorities have been quick to clear shipping lanes around what is the biggest export port in the country.
Importers' Institute secretary Daniel Silva said a handful of importers in Auckland have begun switching their business to shipping companies that go through Port of Tauranga.
"They would rather put up with an additional two to three days to get their goods from Tauranga to Auckland," he said on Radio New Zealand.
Maritime Union workers have held five strikes this summer at Ports of Auckland and mediation talks this week failed. Workers are protesting a casualisation of their work, while the port says it is offering a 10 per cent pay rise and needs more flexible labour arrangements.
Brian Gaynor, a columnist for The New Zealand Herald newspaper, wrote today that the industrial dispute is a life-and-death situation for company and union.
Ports of Auckland's wage bill of $54.9 million compared with Port of Tauranga's total employee expenses of $25.3 million, even though the latter is now the larger port.
"Unless the Auckland port can grow its revenue and reduce its costs it will become a second-class port and will not be able to pay the dividends that Auckland City would expect," he said.
Ports of Auckland has 522 employees whereas Port of Tauranga has 160 permanent, 30 casual employees and a significant number of contractors working for it.
Contracting gives a port companies greater ability to reduce costs, he said.
NZN