UPDATED 9.45am: One Auckland councillor says the Super City's governing body has behaved like a circus over the Ports of Auckland saga.

A compromise was reached yesterday, with the port company agreeing to halt work on one of two controversial wharf extensions, pending the outcome of a port study.c

Christine Fletcher claims the council's buckled, ignoring its own earlier unanimous agreement to demand all work stop until the study is out.

She says things should not have happened as they did.

"We didn't have reports available to us, officers couldn't answer questions, I think the public has been short-changed."

Fletcher supports the port being where it is, but there needs to be careful consideration of future work.

 

Ports of Auckland CEO Tony Gibson says people seem to think the port hasn't engaged professional services to look at its future development.

"Of course we have. I mean, we've engaged international experts which actually revisit the port, its layout and the sensitivities associated with growth and productivity and the impacts that has."

Gibson acknowledges it's an emotive issue, describing the new plan as a pragmatic, workable solution.

"No, I'm not disappointed. I think it's an outcome that I think both parties can be happy with."

The port has also agreed to delay an extension on the western side of the wharf until the council report has been received.

Michael Goldwater from the 'Stop Stealing Our Harbour' group agrees it's a compromise - but says it's not a very good one.

"And it's a one-finger salute into the Waitemata Harbour, and it's not the best solution for Auckland as a whole."

Goldwater says all expansion work should stop until the study is complete.

"There's a Tui ad that goes, 'yeah right' - I think we all know what that means.

"It is extremely unlikely the port will pull that out once they build it."