​​​Ports of Auckland hosting container crane tours for one day only – don't miss out!​

Have you ever wanted to climb the tallest container cranes in New Zealand? Well now you can.​

For this year's SeePort Festival - a three-day celebration of Auckland's rich maritime heritage – Ports of Auckland will be opening up one of its massive new container cranes to 27 lucky people.

They will be able to take a ride up the crane in a tiny lift, visit the machine room to see how the crane works, walk out over the water along the boom and climb up the 83 metre apex for some stunning harbour views.

"The cranes are not in service yet, so this is a unique chance to explore an area that is normally closed to the public. This has never been done before and is unlikely to be repeated once the cranes are in service, so don't miss out," said Ports of Auckland CEO Tony Gibson.

The tours will be held on Saturday 26 January 2019, at Ports of Auckland. People can buy tickets for the tours via TradeMe, who have waived all auction fees for this charity event: visit trade.me/seeportcranetours.

Ports of Auckland is partnering with Diabetes NZ – Auckland Branch, and all money raised from the sale of these tours will be donated to them.

Ports of Auckland's John Miller, who led the crane delivery project and will host the tours, has a personal connection with diabetes: his son Dean is a type 1 diabetic. "Growing up with diabetes is not easy, and as a family we've been grateful for the support Diabetes New Zealand has given us. I'm really pleased to be able to give something back to this excellent charity through my work," said John.

"Diabetes NZ – Auckland Branch, and its youth division, Diabetes Youth Auckland, are excited to be named as the charity partne​r for the Ports of Auckland SeePort Crane Experience," said Branch Manager Sheena Duffy Vakatale.

Diabetes is a serious long-term condition which can affect anybody. Over 94,000 people in Auckland have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, and each year more people are being diagnosed.

The funds raised will provide much needed assistance for youth programmes which support and educate children with type 1 and their families as they learn how to live with confidence with a medical condition. It will also support community-based prevention and awareness programmes, like a mobile awareness service that visits communities across Auckland providing information and testing those most at risk of diabetes, and the HOPE (Healthy Options Positive Eating) programme which teaches culturally appropriate healthy eating and exercise habits.

Diabetes NZ – Auckland Branch's mission is that every Aucklander affected by or at risk of diabetes has access to the support and information needed to live a full and active life.  

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