To the Editor - Important to Recognise

I read with interest your article outlining the report from the NZIER on the potential for government to assist smaller ports to shut if they feel they are no longer viable [14 October].  Whilst I have not read the report itself, the article does not address the tourism activities of our ports. New Zealand is experiencing meteoric growth in its cruise tourism industry.  In fact, cruise tourism is the fastest growing sector of the broader tourism industry, increasing from approximately 17,000 cruise visitors ten years ago to an expected 138,200 visitors this season.

One of the recurring themes related to this growth, though, is that NZ is generally unprepared to accommodate such growth.   For example, our ‘flagship’ cruise passenger terminal in Auckland is woefully lacking in passenger exchange areas, infrastructure for check-in and security and transportation marshalling areas.

Another important issue to consider in the cruise matrix is the number and accessibility of ports.  Many readers will be familiar with the ‘standard’ NZ  cruise itinerary which includes, for example, Tauranga, Dunedin and Christchurch.  However, with the growth of cruising comes a growth in repeat cruising and a concommitant need to refresh itineraries by varying the ports and adding new ones to keep cruise passengers interested.  It also requires the addition of ‘secondary’ ports to accommodate the spillover of cruise ships seeking to dock on any one day (eg Akaroa or Timaru in addition to Lyttelton).

The shutting of smaller ports, as described in the article, would stifle NZ’ need for ports.  It is incumbent amongst port operators to bear the lucrative cruise market in mind, and perhaps even include in their charters statements as to their obligations to support and accommodate cruise tourism, a significant source of foreign expenditure in NZ.

Yours faithfully

Wendy R London