Maritime Union of New Zealand General Secretary Joe Fleetwood says recent statements from Minister of Transport Stephen Joyce and retiring Pacifica Shipping Chief Executive Rod Grout on New Zealand ports and shipping show the need for immediate action in the maritime industry.

Mr Fleetwood says it is incorrect for the National Government to say they want market forces decide the future of the maritime industry, when massive taxpayer investment was directed at roads and rail.

He says that a “hands off” approach to the maritime industry means major market players would dominate the market and make decisions that could harm New Zealand’s transport infrastructure.

“The warning from Rod Grout that New Zealand cargo could end up being hubbed through Australian ports is a very real possibility, which would result in further loss of control of New Zealand exports and downgrading of our transport infrastructure.”

Mr Fleetwood says the Union is advocating a KiwiPort concept which would see co-ordination of ports at a national level, a level of investment by Government, and a planned approach to New Zealand’s transport needs.

He says an example of the much promoted “market forces” causing havoc are the moves by Fonterra to shift its products onto long distance rail rather than through local ports which had damaged the Port of Timaru in 2009.

“The path proposed by the current Government is to do nothing and let destructive parochial competition play out between our ports and a few self-interested big players.”

He says New Zealand has continued to be disadvantaged by its dependence on global shippers who controlled port trade.

“As a trading nation and a maritime island nation, it is irresponsible and short sighted to have no long term direction for our maritime transport industry set by the Government.”

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The Maritime Union says regional ports have been hit hard because of a decision by Fonterra to rail goods to distant ports.

Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says the moves have already led to notices of major redundancies in the port of Timaru, greater casualization of the workforce, and was threatening the viability of some ports.

“This issue cannot be dealt with by ports continuing to compete each other into the ground. It must be addressed by national co-ordination of our transport system, not the wasteful, insecure and chaotic mess we have at the moment.”

He says that Fonterra is running for cover on the issue and their explanations have not satisfied people in the regional ports affected by their recent decisions.

Mr Hanson says there are industry concerns that Fonterra may be getting extremely low rates to transport goods by rail.

He says while such a situation might suit Fonterra, regional ports and coastal shipping were being disadvantaged.

As rail was publicly owned, this could mean people and businesses in those communities would be effectively paying for work to be taken away from them.

Mr Hanson says it’s not a case of rail versus sea.

“The Maritime Union is a big supporter of rail being in public ownership, and public investment in rail, but it has to be part of an integrated transport system, not just another way for the big operators to play off ports and transport modes against each other.”

He says the Maritime Union supports the use of coastal shipping and rail working together, rather than the Government’s emphasis on “unsustainable, polluting and inefficient” heavy trucking.

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New Zealand’s two leading transport unions say that pouring public money only into roading and ignoring other transport infrastructure is a mistake.

The Maritime Union of New Zealand, representing seafarers and waterfront workers,and the Rail and Maritime Transport Union, representing rail and port workers, are concerned that economic stimulus plans focus transport investment exclusively on roading.

The transport unions say that while the Government is correct in investing in infrastructure as a stimulus for the economy, it’s sole focus on investing in roads is wrong.

Rail and Maritime Transport Union General Secretary Wayne Butson says that Government announcements on infrastructure investment since the election have been focussed on roading and this is a major concern for all New Zealanders.

He says in a time when we need to lower our reliance on fossil fuel powered vehicles and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, leaving out urgent rail and ports infrastructure investment is a mistake.

“We need to get goods and passengers out of gas guzzling, congestion creating road transport, and use high quality, low impact transport options like rail and coastal shipping.”

Mr Butson says rail was privatised by the last National Government and it appears that this ideological anti-rail approach is still around.

“Around the world, Government is investing in upgrading their rail industry, and we are noticing we are losing our skilled New Zealand workers overseas as rail operators expand their operations to meet the demand of growing business opportunities.”

He says the previous Government gave strong support to rail, retaining vital skills in New Zealand, but the negative message now was that rail was not part of the picture for the new Government.

“The Rudd Government in Australia has shown strong support for rail in its economic rejuvenation package, and that is an example we should be following.”

Mr Butson says that yet more roading projects created more problems down the track, as it was obvious the world was facing an energy crisis and an environmental crisis.

“The Government seems to be stuck in a George W. Bush type reality, where peak oil and climate change don’t exist.”

Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says as an island nation and a maritime nation, New Zealand should be developing a coastal fleet for domestic shipping, but had struggled for any recognition from Government.

“The cash for roading is the opposite of what the Government should be investing in. The vast majority of goods in and out of New Zealand are carried by shipping, but coastal shipping seems to be ignored.”

“We lack an integrated plan in New Zealand around ports and shipping, which is remarkable given that we are dependent on our ports for trade. Changes in ports will probably lead to hub ports and feeder ports that require shipping links, but where is the New Zealand owned shipping to service these new developments?”

He says shipping was the most environmentally friendly transport mode and would reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

“The SeaChange strategy announced in 2007 showed how coastal shipping will be an increasingly important part of New Zealand’s transport system.”

SeaChange identified a goal of moving 30 per cent of domestic freight by coastal shipping by 2040.

Mr Hanson says overseas flag of convenience shipping enjoyed unfair advantages over New Zealand shipping under current maritime transport legislation.

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