A report discussing the economic viability of leasing out Auckland's port is yet to be made public despite consultation on the city's long-term plan closing in four days.
The report was commissioned by Mayor Wayne Brown, who has been publicly selling his vision for the supercity's future in social media advertisements.
Brown wants to create a $3 to 4 billion war chest, dubbed the Auckland Future Fund, with money from a proposed 35-year lease of the city's port and selling some or all of the council's shares in Auckland Airport.
1News understands the report discusses the economic viability of the proposal to sell the port, and raises numerous questions about how it would actually work.
The report was carried out by economist Craig Renney and has been handed to the mayor's office, but hasn't been seen by councillors or the public.
Brown said he wanted to have the report to ensure councillors received independent advice, and that it would be made public once it's finalised and councillors have seen it.
Two different groups are publicly opposing the mayor's port plan.
It's Our Auckland spokesperson Max Harris said: "Essentially all of the options that are put forward in this long-term plan involve privatisation — the sell-off of public assets."
He added: "It's not enough that councillors are just given this report in private. The Auckland public is entitled to see the analysis in this report, and the councillors deserve to know how the public is reacting and what the public thinks."
Stop Stealing Our Harbour spokesperson Michael Goldwater said: "Basically what they're proposing is to sell the family silver to be in a similar position fiscally, as they already were, but ceding control to a foreign corporation.
"The long-term thing is the port should be moved."
Meanwhile, lobby group Auckland Ratepayers Alliance released a poll today which asked voters about Brown's port plan.
The poll, carried out by pollster Curia, asked: "Auckland's mayor has said that leasing out the management of the port, while still retaining ownership of the port land, will deliver much higher financial returns to the council.
It's unclear where the money's coming from and what it means for Auckland's port. (Source: 1News)
"If council could deliver a much higher return, would you support the port management being leased out, or would you prefer it to continue with the status quo and lower financial returns but keep full ownership?"
Around 60% supported leasing out port management, 26% wanted to leave things as is, while 14% of those canvassed were unsure.
Spokesperson Jordan Williams said: "Ratepayers will get both a better return for owning the port, but be able to keep the land of the port.
"In fact, one of the private operators we understand has offered to not only be more efficient, but to actually shrink the footprint of the port — giving Aucklanders more of their waterfront."
Consultation on Auckland Council's long-term plan closes on Thursday, with councillors making final decisions by June.
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