The New Zealand Council of Cargo Owners is encouraged by the partial approval for the Port of Tauranga berth extension project. The port has received provisional resource consent for Stage 1 of its planned container wharf extension.
NZCCO Chair, Mike Knowles, said that this is a critical piece of infrastructure for the Bay of Plenty and broader NZ supply chain.
“The Council of Cargo Owners has been calling for this project to get moving for several years”, said Mr Knowles. “It is now well overdue and costs have spiralled upwards in this time.”
Mr Knowles said that on current projections the capacity provided by the 285 metres of additional berth will be required in 2026 so the sooner the Port of Tauranga can start construction the better for the country.
“Exporters are dependent on adequate supply chain infrastructure to move their cargoes efficiently – without sufficient capacity at key ports such as Tauranga the entire supply chain will congest, adding cost and time delays and ultimately eroding the country’s competitiveness. It is critical that fit for purpose supply chain infrastructure is delivered in a timely manner.”
About NZCCO
The NZ Council of Cargo Owners represents the shipping supply chain interests of many of the country’s largest exporters and importers, spanning companies with major interest in industries such as horticulture, dairy, meat, steel, forestry and timber, FMCG, and pulp and paper. Current members companies collectively account for in excess of 70% of New Zealand’s containerised exports and a significant amount of bulk export, imports and domestic volume.
