Ports of Auckland has announced plans to demolish Marsden Wharf, with work starting next week on the northern section.
In a statement, the ports company said the structure was old and at the end of its useful life.
Marsden Wharf, the smallest of the finger wharves to the west of its main port terminals, has not been used for cargo ships for many years.
Its use has been limited to temporarily parking imported cars.
A ports spokesman said the piles will be left in place until it was able to deepen the shipping basin in the area.
Ultimately the expanded shipping basin will be used for ships berthing at Bledisloe Wharf.
"It will mean the port is able to utilise a berth that is currently inaccessible and reduces the need to extend further north.
"The work is part of the port's long-term plan to optimise the port layout to improve efficiency and keep reclamation needs to a minimum," the spokesman said.
The council granted consent for the demolition works in May 2012. The ports company plans to seek resource consent for deepening work within the next five years.
Last week, the Herald revealed plans by the port company to build two large wharf extensions into Waitemata Harbour and reclaim 3ha of seabed between them over time.
One councillor opposed to further harbour reclamation, Chris Darby, said: "Massive wharf extensions revealed one week, wharf demolition the next. This outfit operates more like a corporate fiefdom than public entity 100% owned by Aucklanders."
by Bernard Orsman of the New Zealand Herald
