Ports of Auckland is going ahead with plans to extend Bledisloe Wharf, despite ongoing protests.

Protestors want to halt the extensions into the Waitemata Harbour.

They're unhappy with the look of the new plans, and feel left out of the process.

Ports of Auckland's Matt Ball sees where the protestors are coming from, but says [told Mike Hosking] if they don't extend, they'll soon be turning ships away.

He says just because the port's ugly, doesn't mean it's not essential.

Matt Ball says we still live on an island and need to get our goods in and out somehow.