Napier Port’s new 350-metre wharf, known as 6 Wharf – Te Whiti, is now open for business to support the future growth of importers and exporters across the central and lower North Island.
It was officially opened on July 22 and was completed ahead of schedule within its stated forecast of $173-179 million. It’s New Zealand’s largest piece of privately-funded infrastructure in a decade.
Chief executive Todd Dawson says the new wharf will play a big part in strengthening the country’s freight and supply chain.
“New Zealand’s supply chain is the foundation of our economy and there has never been a greater need for an efficient, cost-effective, sustainable network than there is now.
“6 Wharf’s commercially funded investment business model is a fantastic example of what can be done with the right support and vision to enable New Zealand to have the type of quality infrastructure required to support sustainable growth now – and for generations to come.
“At 350-metres-long Te Whiti is long enough and deep enough to accommodate the increasingly large vessels calling New Zealand today and into the future, allowing us to support the needs of our customers, community and region.”
“It is connected to the rail and State Highway networks and a series of strategically-located inland ports, enabling a more efficient, coordinated flow of cargo across and in and out of New Zealand.”
“Once fully operational, our new wharf will help to alleviate ongoing shipping disruptions and supply chain congestion across New Zealand.
“It will improve operational performance across all of Napier Port’s wharves, ultimately boosting productivity for our customers and continuing to provide the linkages Hawke’s Bay needs to move its premium products to global markets.”
Dawson says the company was pleased to have achieved resource consent without any environmental court challenges.
“This is something that doesn’t happen often with major projects now, and is a credit to everyone involved and genuine engagement between many different stakeholder groups,” Dawson says.
Te Whiti means to transfer or exchange – reflecting the transfer of goods from the region to the world. It also means to shine, symbolising the rays from Hawke’s Bay to the world.
The name of the new wharf was put forward by Napier Port’s Kahui group as part of a selection process.
