Role of Infrastructure Auckland regarding future of Westhaven marina

Contrary to what has been stated in the New Zealand Herald this week, the Electoral College of Infrastructure Auckland has no power to give directions to or otherwise exercise control over Infrastructure Auckland or any parts of its business including Ports of Auckland, Manukau mayor Sir Barry Curtis says.

Sir Barry is chair of the Electoral College.

He says, "The College certainly has no power to direct what should happen to Westhaven marina.

"As of 1st July this year the 80% shareholding in the Ports of Auckland Ltd currently owned by Infrastructure Auckland will transfer into the ownership of the Auckland Regional Council through Auckland Holdings Ltd.

"In my opinion the Westhaven marina sale process should be halted by Ports of Auckland, pending the transfer of the shares to the ARC through Auckland Holdings Ltd to allow the ARC, after public consultation, to ascertain the future of the marina.

"The government is preparing legislation to transfer all of the assets of Infrastructure Auckland to the Auckland Regional Council and this also is good reason why the government should entertain halting the process.

"My view is that this asset ought to be held in public ownership for the benefit of present and future generations of Aucklanders. This is a view shared by all the mayors of Auckland and we have no reason to change that position."

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>