Port of Tauranga

Port of Tauranga expands Auckland operations

Posted on 18th February 2011

Port of Tauranga is establishing a container packing and unpacking facility in Auckland in a joint venture with its associate companies Tapper Transport and C3 Limited.

The new facility, MetroPack, adjoins the Port of Tauranga's MetroPort operation at Southdown, which is connected by rail to the container terminal at Tauranga.

The inaugural customer of MetroPack is Carter Holt Harvey Lodestar. Initially, Lodestar will use MetroPack for the storage and packing of CHH Penrose Mill recycled fibre medium export paper reels and CHH northern mills' sawn timber and LVL export volumes.

Port of Tauranga Chief Executive, Mark Cairns, says the Company is delighted to announce the commencement of container packing operations in Auckland and to welcome CHH Lodestar as a foundation customer of MetroPack. Carter Holt Harvey has a long-term operating agreement with Port of Tauranga, which has paved the way for the companies to work together on strategic initiatives.

Lodestar General Manager Murray Horne says MetroPack was selected on the basis of an open market, competitive tender process. "The MetroPack facility offers strategic advantages to CHH through its location and sustainable access, via a range of transport modes, to our key export points within the North Island. The MetroPack operation enables us to further minimise logistics risk and maintain essential access to key CHH export markets".

Mark Cairns also observed that MetroPack has many opportunities to serve other Auckland-based importers and exporters. "Our aim is to give our customers the most efficient ways of handling their supply chains utilising our strengths as well as those of our partners."

C3 Limited is New Zealand's largest on-wharf logistics company, with extensive experience in marshalling, stevedoring, warehousing and wharf cartage, and is a market leader in tailoring product handling solutions for exporters and importers. Tapper Transport, which was acquired by Port of Tauranga in March last year, is the country's largest container transport company, with a freight station connected by rail to the container terminals at Ports of Auckland and Port of Tauranga.

MetroPack is leasing an existing building at "Gateside", adjacent to MetroPort and close to Tapper Transport's freight hub as well as Carter Holt Harvey's Penrose paper manufacturing site. Additional facilities will be built as required.

For further information please contact:

Mark Cairns
Chief Executive
Port of Tauranga Limited
Ph: 07 572 8829