Parliament’s Transport and Infrastructure Committee has
formally launched an inquiry into the nation’s ports and
the maritime sector. The committee is acutely aware that, as
an island nation with a trade-dependent economy, efficient
and competitive ports and marine industries are essential to
sustaining economic growth and prosperity.
Andy
Foster, chair of the Transport and Infrastructure Committee
said: “From the first explorers, Polynesian and European,
the sea has always been vitally important to New Zealand. We
are a trading nation. Our ports are critical to exports and
imports alike. Having myself visited most of our ports
already, I am very aware of the diversity of our ports. They
are of widely differing scale. They have different functions
in the national maritime system. They compete and they
collaborate. They serve quite different regional economies,
and have varying maritime focus, and both unique and shared
opportunities and challenges.”
“The
committee is aware that the Government is very focused on
lifting productivity and economic performance. That is
essential to lifting every New Zealanders standard of
living. To this end, through this inquiry we will be seeking
opportunities to help raise the performance of our ports and
maritime sector and therefore help benefit our export
producers and importers alike.”
The
committee has established this Inquiry to examine the
current state of play, challenges, and future opportunities
within the ports and maritime sectors. This includes key
connections to the ports’ respective land and maritime
hinterland economies, their transport connections and inland
ports.
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The committee intends to meet with key players
and interested parties across the sector and to undertake
site visits as appropriate to further its
understanding.
Public submissions are also being
called from interested individuals and organisations. Public
submissions will be open for six weeks and will close at
11.59pm on Sunday, 13 July 2025.
The committee’s
intention is to follow up on submissions where these will
add to our understanding of the sector.
For more
information on the committee’s plans for this inquiry
please refer to the terms
of reference.
Tell the Transport and
Infrastructure Committee what you think
Make
a submission on the inquiry by 11.59pm on Sunday, 13
July
2025.
