Relocating Auckland's port is one option on the cards for a group investigating its future.

The Ports Future Study group has been commissioned by Auckland Council to consider growth options for the council-owned port.

It includes representatives of Ports of Auckland, and opponents of its plans to expand into Waitemata Harbour.

Study chairman Rick Boven says they're considering the cultural, social and cultural implications of several options, including moving the port away from downtown.

"We need to be looking a long way out, 50 years or more, and consider how freight will be provided to Auckland."

A group appointed to investigate the future of Auckland's port is starting with a clean slate.

The Ports Future Study group has been commissioned by Auckland Council to consider what should happen to the council-owned port.

Previous reports suggest increasing the capacity of the port is crucial to the city's economy, and taking more freight through other ports could be too costly.

Rick Boven says the group will doing their own analysis of the different options, including relocating the port.

"We're not specifically building on any single report. We won't really be drawing any conclusions until we have a shared understanding of the issues."

The port has delayed its main Bledisloe Wharf extension until the study has been completed.

The consensus working group

 

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