Consortium lobs bid for Lyttelton

 CHRISTCHURCH City Holdings Ltd (CCHL), the commercial arm of Christchurch City Council, has confirmed receipt of an “unsolicited proposal from a consortium” relating to the Port of Lyttelton.

The proposal was highlighted yesterday [18 June] by the Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) and Rail & Maritime Transport Union (RMTU), which said DP World was seeking an operational lease of the port. DCN has sought comment from DP World and Lyttelton Port Company (LPC), without response.

CCHL told local media today it had received the proposal by email on Wednesday night. CCHL chief executive Matthew Slater told The Press: “Any proposal related to interest in CCHL’s assets is reviewed as a matter of course.

“In this case, a review of the proposal will be completed in the context of council’s letter of expectation and specific direction related to leasing of port operations.”

The unions described the proposal as a move towards privatisation, and said they opposed any lease arrangement involving port operations.

Union representatives also referred to comments they said were made at an internal staff meeting about an unsolicited proposal and a possible operational lease involving DP World. DCN has not independently verified those claims.

The unions said LPC chief executive Graeme Sumner and LPC chair Barry Bragg had not confirmed any involvement with DP World.

MUNZ and RMTU said they were taking what they described as a strong stance in defence of community ownership of the port.

“This is a serious issue for a profitable public asset that belongs to the people of Christchurch,” MUNZ Lyttelton branch secretary Gerard Loader said.

Mr Loader said the Maritime Union had previously opposed privatisation efforts involving the Port of Auckland, which remains in public ownership.

He said that, through work involving management, unions and Auckland Council, the Port of Auckland was delivering returns while maintaining jobs and health and safety standards.

RMTU Lyttelton branch secretary Mark Wilson said the union had concerns about DP World’s track record in Australia.

“If a multinational network operator like DP World were to secure control of Lyttelton Port, we believe it could lead to higher costs for local businesses, reduced local economic benefit, pressure on safety standards, and job losses on the waterfront,” Mr Wilson said.

The two unions are calling on Christchurch City councillors and other elected representatives to oppose any deal they believe would result in a lease of port operations.

The Press reported last year that CCHL met DP World three times in 2024 as part of wider “market sounding” with global shipping and logistics companies. CCHL said at the time the meetings were not negotiations over a sale or lease.

Late last year the unions were at odds with LPC for several weeks while the port company restructured the workforce at the Lyttelton Container Terminal.