Privatising the Ports of Auckland could hit local users with $70 million dollars in extra costs annually.
That comes from a new report commissioned by the Maritime Union of New Zealand, which looks at the downsides of selling operations to foreign companies.
Auckland Council is looking at options to sell an operating lease to a global operator, commissioning consultants to seek expressions of interest.
Maritime Union of New Zealand National Secretary Craig Harrison says a key concern is price hikes getting passed on to local industry and consumers.
Harrison spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.
