Lyttelton Port ‘takeover’ proposal has landed, owner says

Thursday, 18 June 2026

Christchurch City Holdings has received an “unsolicited” proposal to run Lyttelton Port, after workers reported a Dubai-headquartered multinational logistics giant would be making a takeover and operational lease bid.

Unions have come out in opposition to what they describe as a “backdoor privatisation push” between DP World and Lyttelton Port Company (LPC).

They are calling on local politicians to ensure no deal proceeds to “strip Christchurch of its most valuable strategic asset”.

Christchurch City Holdings Ltd (CCHL), which owns Lyttelton Port Company on behalf of the Christchurch City Council, confirmed it had received an “unsolicited proposal from a consortium” relating to LPC, although it did not confirm it had come from DP World.

CCHL chief executive Matthew Slater told The Press the proposal arrived via email, late on Wednesday.

“Any proposal related to interest in CCHL's assets is reviewed as a matter of course.

“In this case, a review of the proposal will be completed in the context of council's letter of expectation and specific direction related to leasing of port operations.”

A CCHL board meeting at LPC on Thursday was unrelated to the proposal, he said.

Councillor Sam MacDonald, who was also formerly a CCHL director, said the port owner had a letter of expectation from the council “which is very clear” on their thoughts on leasing out port operations involving directly employed staff, a position that could limit any future DP World-style proposal.

“You can’t stop people from approaching companies with bids,” he said. “It doesn’t mean you have to accept them.

“We have a very structured process these things have to work their way through.”

The Press reported last year that CCHL met DP World three times in 2024 as part of wider “market sounding” with global shipping and logistics companies. CCHL said at the time the meetings were not negotiations over a sale or lease.

The debate comes as Lyttelton Port advances plans for its Te Awaparahi Bay expansion, a project expected to cost about $800 million and significantly increase the port's capacity.

Port workforce sources said Lyttelton Port Company chief executive Graeme Sumner had advised staff of the proposal, the Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) and the Rail and Maritime Transport Union (RMTU) said in a joint statement.

Port sources had reported CCHL directors were booked in for a tour of wharf infrastructure, the unions said.

“This is a co-ordinated ambush on a profitable public asset that belongs to the people of Christchurch,” said Maritime Union Lyttelton branch secretary Gerard Loader.

Loader said the Maritime Union successfully saw off a privatisation attempt at Port of Auckland, which remained in public ownership.

RMTU Lyttelton branch secretary Mark Wilson alleged DP World and its port operations in Australia had “a concerning record”.

“DP World in Australia are known for paying little or no Australian corporate income tax in some years, exporting profits as management fees to a parent company, reducing labour share of revenue, introducing massive fee hikes for port users, and failing to meet capital investment commitments.

“If a multinational network operator like DP World captures Lyttelton Port, it will mean skyrocketing costs for local businesses, the systematic stripping of community wealth, the degradation of critical safety standards, and widespread job losses on the waterfront.”

The two unions called on Christchurch City councillors and all elected representatives to “shut the door firmly on this deal”.

“Our elected representatives have a clear mandate from the community to protect our strategic assets. We expect Christchurch City councillors to demand absolute transparency from CCHL and LPC leadership, reject any proposal that would result in privatisation or foreign control of the port, and ensure that Lyttelton Port remains 100% publicly owned,” Wilson said.

Port chief executive Graeme Sumner and chairman Barry Bragg said in a statement any news on a proposal had to come via the port’s owner, CCHL.

“LPC has had no involvement in any deal with DP World. LPC has not entered into any negotiations, agreements or discussions with DP World regarding the ownership or operation of the port.”

They rejected the claims made by the unions.

“LPC remains focused on running a safe and reliable port that supports Canterbury’s economy. We will continue to work constructively with our people, our owner, and our customers.”