DHL Express is investing $42 million into a new Christchurch facility set to boost growing international trade from the South Island.
The Christchurch Gateway, scheduled to open in 2026, will measure 8500 square meters and will replace the previous service point and gateway facility at Christchurch Airport. Combining the two functions under one roof will significantly improve operational efficiency, DHL says.
The new facility, which is the company’s largest-ever investment in New Zealand, will be equipped with a line sorter conveyor system capable of processing up to 6500 parcels per hour (PPH) for inbound shipments and 5600 PPH for outbound shipments, along with high-speed X-ray screening capabilities.
The 2024 ExportNZ DHL Export Barometer results revealed that more than half (58%) of New Zealand-based exporters expect their overseas orders to increase in 2025, a jump from 2023, when only 42% of exporters experienced growth.
The transport and logistics giant is forecasting an average growth of 4-5% annually in the Christchurch region over the coming years and the Christchurch gateway will support predicted international growth.
DHL Express New Zealand and Pacific Islands managing director Mark Foy says Christchurch and the South Island has been one of the fastest growing regions for DHL over the last five years.
“DHL has supported that strong growth with a daily Boeing 767 operation connecting New Zealand’s South Island to the world.
“The new DHL gateway will have direct access to the tarmac which enables us to significantly improve shipment processing speed and help more Kiwi exporters and importers get their products to international markets,” Foy says.
Designed as a 100% carbon neutral build (CNB), the facility will be created and operated to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions over its entire lifecycle. This includes implementing energy efficiency measures, using renewable energy, offsetting greenhouse gas emissions, and incorporating sustainable building materials.
With features like a solar photovoltaic system, electric vehicle charging stations, advanced energy metering, and integration with Christchurch airport’s campus-wide rainwater harvesting system, the facility aims to set a new benchmark for sustainability in logistics infrastructure. The landscaping will also focus on enhancing biodiversity by using regenerative New Zealand native species.
DHL says it’s also helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through its GoGreen Plus initiative introduced in 2023 which uses an ‘insetting approach’ to help customers reduce carbon emissions using sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Christchurch Airport chief executive Justin Watson says the partnership with DHL is about driving international trade and providing world-class logistics solutions.
“This new facility is an important step forward for our airport as we expand our freight apron and is a testament to the importance of Dakota Park, our freight and logistics precinct, in connecting Kiwi businesses to the world,” Watson says.
The airport recently announced plans to double its freight handling capacity through a multi-million dollar project with Fulton Hogan.
It also follows significant investments in ground infrastructure and the expansion of DHL’s air network over the past six years. This includes the expansion of the Auckland airport gateway in 2016 and the introduction of the Boeing 767-300 freighter flying between Auckland and Sydney in 2018 (now operating with an additional stop in Christchurch), the opening of the new Auckland service centre in 2019, the dedicated freighter serving the Melbourne–Auckland–Melbourne route introduced in 2020, and the two new airport service centres in Auckland and Hamilton in 2022.
