http://www.munz.org.nz Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:36:03 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.munz.org.nz/2009/09/03/where-does-minister-of-transport-stephen-joyce-stand-in-regional-ports-furore/ http://www.munz.org.nz/2009/09/03/where-does-minister-of-transport-stephen-joyce-stand-in-regional-ports-furore/#comments Thu, 03 Sep 2009 23:35:32 +0000 admin http://www.munz.org.nz/?p=614 http://www.munz.org.nz/2009/09/03/where-does-minister-of-transport-stephen-joyce-stand-in-regional-ports-furore/feed/ 0 http://www.munz.org.nz/2009/08/30/answers-needed-on-kiwirail-%e2%80%93-fonterra-deal/ http://www.munz.org.nz/2009/08/30/answers-needed-on-kiwirail-%e2%80%93-fonterra-deal/#comments Sun, 30 Aug 2009 01:54:56 +0000 admin http://www.munz.org.nz/?p=612 Cartoon courtesy of the Shipping Gazette The Maritime Union has stepped up its demand for answers as fallout continues from Fonterra's dumping of regional ports in favour of long distance rail – and the influence that state subsidies to KiwiRail may have had on any deal. KiwiRail has waded into the growing debate over the fate of regional ports, as the implications of Fonterra's withdrawal from ports in New Plymouth and Timaru becomes apparent.]]> http://www.munz.org.nz/2009/08/30/answers-needed-on-kiwirail-%e2%80%93-fonterra-deal/feed/ 0 http://www.munz.org.nz/2009/08/21/maritime-union-highlights-negative-effects-of-fonterra-port-pull-out/ http://www.munz.org.nz/2009/08/21/maritime-union-highlights-negative-effects-of-fonterra-port-pull-out/#comments Fri, 21 Aug 2009 01:49:52 +0000 admin http://www.munz.org.nz/?p=594 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." ]]> http://www.munz.org.nz/2009/08/21/maritime-union-highlights-negative-effects-of-fonterra-port-pull-out/feed/ 0 http://www.munz.org.nz/2009/08/19/fonterra-and-shipping-companies-held-up-to-scrutiny/ http://www.munz.org.nz/2009/08/19/fonterra-and-shipping-companies-held-up-to-scrutiny/#comments Wed, 19 Aug 2009 19:30:15 +0000 admin http://www.munz.org.nz/?p=588 TVNZ reports that "the Maritime Union of New Zealand is calling for national co-ordination of port strategy, arguing that Fonterra is exerting such power as a customer it is effectively rationalising the port industry." The Taranaki Daily News writes that "Zealand's waterfront workers and seafarers have savaged Fonterra's decision to drop Port Taranaki, warning it has the potential to 'rip the guts out' of the port" following a "a bombshell decision last week, the dairy giant said it would be railing Whareroa product to Auckland and Tauranga instead."]]> http://www.munz.org.nz/2009/08/19/fonterra-and-shipping-companies-held-up-to-scrutiny/feed/ 0 http://www.munz.org.nz/2009/08/19/regional-ports-at-mercy-of-fonterra-and-shipping-companies/ http://www.munz.org.nz/2009/08/19/regional-ports-at-mercy-of-fonterra-and-shipping-companies/#comments Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:40:50 +0000 admin http://www.munz.org.nz/?p=586 Fonterra's decision to stop shipping containerized exports through Port Taranaki and Port Timaru was an example of how entire regional economies within New Zealand were being disrupted. The recent announcement by Fonterra means the loss of 25,000 boxes of cargo to Port Taranaki in New Plymouth, and the loss of 24,000 boxes to Port Timaru annually. Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson says the "overnight decisions" by Fonterra and major shipping companies are harming regional communities and regional ports through a process of "destructive competition" where ports experienced major and unpredictable changes in shipments.]]> http://www.munz.org.nz/2009/08/19/regional-ports-at-mercy-of-fonterra-and-shipping-companies/feed/ 0