12 Nov 2015

Historic Auckland wharf to close to commercial operations

3:30 pm on 12 November 2015

Commercial operations on Auckland's historic Onehunga Wharf on Manukau Harbour will soon be over.

Only cement ships use the port now and they will stop doing so next year.

Ports of Auckland is negotiating to sell the land to council-owned company Panuku Development Auckland, saying the money will help it develop the main port in Waitemata Harbour.

Panuku Development Auckland expects the Onehunga Wharf area to be used for housing, commercial projects, tourism and recreation.

Fishing boats will continue to use the area.

Manukau Harbour is handicapped by a sandbar across the harbour mouth where the country's worst-ever shipping disaster, the wreck of the Orpheus, happened in 1863 with the loss of nearly 200 lives.