Unions urge councillors to rewrite rules protecting Lyttelton Port

Wednesday, 24 June 2026

Lyttelton port workers at Christchurch City Council, where unions urged councillors to strengthen protections for direct employment and public control of the port.

Lyttelton port unions want Christchurch councillors to force the council’s investment arm to clearly record the council’s opposition to leasing port operations, as a consortium involving DP World seeks to run the city-owned port.

The unions told the council’s finance and performance committee on Wednesday that Christchurch City Holdings Ltd’s key governance document failed to carry over several council expectations, including support for a directly employed workforce at Lyttelton Port.

They asked councillors to require CCHL to add the missing wording as it considers the Tōnui proposal.

“The legislation gives you power to direct the content,” the unions told councillors. “Intervene now and put things right.”

The Tōnui consortium has made an unsolicited proposal to run Lyttelton Port through a new operating company under a long-term licence.

The consortium includes global port operator DP World and three Ngāi Tahu rūnanga. The port’s land and major assets would remain in public ownership, but the new company would take over its day-to-day operations.

CCHL oversees Lyttelton Port Company on behalf of Christchurch City Council and is considering the proposal.

The council said in its letter of expectation to CCHL that it did not support leasing port operations or other significant activities involving directly employed staff.

The unions – Rail and Maritime Transport Union, Maritime Union of New Zealand, Amalgamated Workers Union New Zealand Incorporated (Southern Region) and New Zealand Merchant Service Guild – say that direction is not clearly reflected in CCHL’s statement of intent, which sets out the company’s objectives and how it plans to operate.

Tōnui has said all current port workers would be retained on terms no less favourable than they have now.

However, the unions say that does not answer whether they would continue to be employed directly by Lyttelton Port Company or transfer to the proposed operating company.

RMTU Lyttelton branch secretary Mark Wilson speaks to councillors about the unions’ concerns over CCHL’s response to the proposed Tōnui operating deal.

They argue direct employment is important for maintaining collective bargaining, worker protections and public accountability.

CCHL chairman Bryan Pearson told councillors the company had the power to decide on the proposal, but would not act independently of the council.

He said transferring operations to a joint venture would be a material change to the port’s operating model, and any decision would be made “hand in hand” with councillors.

Pearson said the proposal did not involve selling the port or its assets. It involved creating a joint venture operating company involving CCHL and the Tōnui consortium.

He agreed the proposal was intended to retain existing staff, but did not clarify whether they would remain employed by Lyttelton Port Company.

Pearson said CCHL would return to councillors before deciding whether to reject the proposal or investigate it further.

Finance and performance committee chair Sam MacDonald said he did not believe the council needed to revisit its letter of expectation.

“We have such trust and confidence in Bryan Pearson and the board that it’s not, in my view, necessary,” he said.

MacDonald said councillors had heard “loud and clear” that CCHL was taking the proposal seriously and would work through its normal processes.