Under public ownership, the Port is guided by the social good and the needs of Christchurch, Lyttleton, and Canterbury. We maintain democratic local control of freight costs in and out of our region, protecting us from economic shocks. 

A privately run Lyttleton port would remove democratic accountability, and could start a spiral of rising social and financial costs. 

With the Port in public ownership, we have a say in its development and priorities. This includes the protection of local fisheries, the environmental health of the harbour, and public access to our coastlines. 

Less than 100% public ownership and control amounts to private control of the Port. This means accruing public profit in private hands. Your public infrastructure becomes a tool to extract as much economic rent as possible. Profits go offshore and rates increase.

In recent years Christchurch has faced natural disaster and civil emergencies. Because the city owns and controls its major infrastructure publicly, we were able to prioritise investment over profits. This saved lives and protected our communities. 

Most workers at the Port live and therefore invest in Lyttleton. They are local people with roots in their community, so they help local businesses thrive and grow. Automation in private hands means damaging the community wealth and unique social fabric of Lyttleton built up over generations.