News that Auckland port workers are calling off a planned Auckland strike may provide some breathing space for the Port of Tauranga.

Last week, the Port of Tauranga informed customers it was at container handling capacity and will no longer accept ships that wanted to by-pass Auckland, due to the recent strikes by the Ports of Auckland Ltd. Maritime Union workers.

The result of the judicial conference on Wednesday has seen the union call off its latest strike and the port company put a hold on its plan to contract out the union members jobs.

Port of Tauranga CEO Mark Cairns says these actions won't change the number of vessels on schedule for the coming week, but 'what might change is the amount of cargo they are picking up and dropping off here”.

In a statement released on Thursday, Ports of Auckland Ltd (POAL) states it has agreed to halt contracting out for four weeks, but the company has not in any way resiled from its position on contracting out.

Judge Barrie Travis' minutes state the substantive hearing set down to be heard on March 26 is adjourned indefinitely, but can be brought on at short notice by either party.

Bargaining continues under the auspices of the Mediations Service.

The union's application for an interim injunction that was to be heard on Thursday is also adjourned indefinitely, but able to be brought on at short notice by either party.

The mediation between POAL and the Maritime Union will involve the collective agreement and it is POAL's intention to also discuss the striking workers applying for positions with the contracting companies.

POAL undertakes to take no further steps to make the union members redundant and will not dismiss its container terminal union members.

The port will not employ Drake Personnel Ltd or Allied Workforce Ltd or any other person to perform the work of striking employees in breach of s 97 of the Employment Relations Act 2000, and will take steps to instruct Drake Personnel Ltd Allied Workforce Ltd and any other potential contractor not to undertake recruitment or training related to the contracting out of work at the POAL.

If they do, the port will have to give the 48 hours notice to enable the union to go to court.

Leave is reserved to either party to refer the matter back to the court during the one month period.

Both parties are asked by the court to exercise restraint regarding media statements.