Nā Shakayla Andrews-Alapaki tēnei atikara.
A new proposal led by three Ngāi Tahu rūnanga and global ports operator DP World could reshape the future of Lyttelton Port while keeping the port in public ownership and reducing future funding pressure on Christchurch ratepayers.
The proposal, submitted to Christchurch City Holdings Limited, comes from Tōnui, a partnership between Ngāti Wheke, Ngāi Tūāhuriri, Taumutu Rūnanga and DP World.
Under the proposal, Christchurch City Holdings Limited would retain 100 per cent ownership of the port’s land and strategic assets, while a long-term operating partnership would be established to support growth, infrastructure development, environmental outcomes and regional supply chains.
Tōnui spokesperson Dr Liz Brown said the proposal was the result of months of discussions between the rūnanga and DP World.
“We've been engaging in conversations with DP World since August 2024. So this is not something that has just come about by chance,” Brown said.
Brown said the partnership had developed a set of core principles that guided negotiations.
“We have developed a series of bottom lines so those have been negotiated across the three rūnanga,” she said.
“So we have bottom lines around the environment, social, cultural and economics”
The proposal is being presented as an alternative way to fund future investment at the port, reducing reliance on public funding and easing pressure on Christchurch ratepayers.
“This is not about selling the asset, this is about leasing the operations of it,” Brown said.
“We have been clear as part of our expectations that people's jobs are maintained.”
The proposal includes commitments to retaining current port workers on no less favourable terms and supporting workforce development as technology changes.
“Our expectation is people do remain in their work, but also there's significant opportunity for us as technology increases and develops,” Brown said.
“We would hope that our people are upskilled to be able to operate in that new environment too.”
Environmental concerns have also featured prominently in discussions around the port’s future. Brown said the rūnanga had expressed opposition to further reclamation in Whakaraupō.
An existing development plan for the port, reported to be worth around $800 million, remains separate from the Tōnui proposal. Brown said the figure relates to a reclamation project currently under consideration.
“Whether that is the final way that the port develops is still part of the due diligence that needs to be undertaken.” she said.
Christchurch City Holdings Limited is now reviewing the proposal, with no decision yet made on whether it will proceed to the next stage.
Tōnui is a partnership between Te Taumutu Rūnanga, Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke (Rāpaki) Rūnanga, Ngāi Tūāhuriri Rūnanga, and DP World, a port operations and logistics company based in the United Arab Emirates.
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He tono hōu nā ngā rūnanga e toru o Ngāi Tahu me DP World e panoni ana i te anamata o te pōta kei Whakaraupō, ā, e noho tonu te rangatiratanga o te pōta i raro i te hāpori me te mimiti haere o ngā pūtea mai i ngā kaipāpātanga.
I tukuna te tono ki a Christchurch City Holdings Limited. He tono nā Tōnui, he kāhui rangapū mahitahi i waenga i a Ngāti Wheke, Ngāi Tūāhuriri, Te Taumutu Rūnanga me DP World. He kamupene pōta kei United Arab Emirates.
E ai ki te tono, ka pupuri tonu e Christchurch City Holdings Limited te 100% o te whenua me ngā huarawa. Heoi anō, ka whakatūria he hononga pae tawhiti hei tautoko i te tipu haere o te pōta, te whakawhanaketanga tūāhanga, ngā hua taiao me ngā mekameka tuku ā-rohe.
Hei tā te māngai nō Tōnui, a Tākuta Liz Brown, ko te tono tētahi hua o ngā wānanga i waenga i ngā rūnanga me DP World.
“We've been engaging in conversations with DP World since August 2024. So this is not something that has just come about by chance,” hei tā Brown.
E ai ki a Brown, i ahu mai tēnei rangapū mahitahi mai i ētahi mātāpono. Nā ērā mātāpono i arahina ai ngā whiriwhiritanga.
“We have developed a series of bottom lines so those have been negotiated across the three rūnanga,” hei tāna.
“So we have bottom lines around the environment, social, cultural and economics”
He tono arokē kia whai pūtea, kia haumitanga ki te pōta mā te whakaiti i te taupuhipuhitanga o te marea me te tau haere o ngā kaipāpātanga kei Ōtautahi.
“This is not about selling the asset, this is about leasing the operations of it,” ko tā Brown
“We have been clear as part of our expectations that people's jobs are maintained.”
Hei tāpiri atu ki te tono, he kawenga kia noho tonu ngā kaimahi o te pōta me te tautoko i te whanake haere o te taha mahi nā runga i te panoni o te hangarau.
“Our expectation is people do remain in their work, but also there's significant opportunity for us as technology increases and develops,” e ai ki a Brown.
“We would hope that our people are upskilled to be able to operate in that new environment too.”
Ko ngā take taiao kua noho mātāmua i roto i ngā wānanga mō te anamata o Whakaraupo. Hei tā Brown, e ātete ana te rūnanga i ngā mahi whakarauora ki Whakaraupō.
E ai ki ngā kōrero, he mahere whakarauora mō te pōta, ka mutu, he $800 miriona tāra te utu. Ka noho māwehe tēnei mahere mai i te tono o Tōnui.
“Whether that is the final way that the port develops is still part of the due diligence that needs to be undertaken.” hei tāna.
E arokengia e Christchurch City Holdings Limited te tono, ka mutu, kāore anō kia whakatau inā ka kōkiri tonu tēnei tono.