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At this stage we envisage that the consented port expansion/container terminal will initially require 50-100 additional jobs at Northport. As the business case allows, the terminal will become semi-automated and then fully automated. Total job numbers will be 30-50 at that time.

The plan for expansion is based on a container trade supporting the Northland and north Auckland freight growth/demand.

1) Stage 1 Berth Extension The Board has approved detailed scoping and costing work and Northport is at an advanced stage of readiness to proceed with construction of an additional 175m of berth and adjacent hardstand in the event of a Final Investment Decision. No decision has been taken beyond this. Our Board’s view is that the primary focus of expansion is to support an efficient new supply chain into the expanding Auckland market and for this to become a reality the connecting infrastructure must be part of the picture - including the Marsden Point rail spur and potentially the inland port.

2) Eastern Container Terminal As with all Northport expansion plans, a solid business case will be required – and this will be rooted firmly in commercial demand. The Consents for the Eastern expansion project were received in October 2025 and have a 20-year lapse period; in other words, Northport has until Q3 2045 to start construction.

The port already operates 24/7. There are existing noise management procedures that are reviewed regularly. The consents issued for the planned expansion include conditions imposed around night-time operations.

This is a project that, in principle, we are entirely supportive of. We believe it has the potential to be not only regionally significant, but also nationally strategic. Marine engineering and services are two of only a few sectors where Northland can claim national leadership. They are both strategic growth sectors for Northland – vital to our ambition to make Northland a $60 billion economy by 2050.

All that said, this is not a Northport Group Ltd project. It is being progressed by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) with technical support and expertise from Northport. Questions around project status and funding are for the Crown and potential private sector investment partners.

The rail spur and the port expansion are complementary and both are important to Northport’s ability to play a meaningful role in a resilient and geographically-astute upper North Island supply chain. KiwiRail are in the process of purchasing the last few pieces of land within the designation while confirming the build design. Once this has been completed the actual build is estimated at five years from inception to completion.

Northport is not privy to the commercial rates provided by KiwiRail.

Increased freight volume and either a reduced road-bridge cost or a small container siding at Oakleigh (being discussed with KiwiRail).

Northport meets regularly with KiwiRail, as this project ramps up there are plans for in depth discussions around rail requirements at Marsden Point.

Check out our Vision For Growth or the slider on this page. Vision For Growth - Slider

This type of rail configuration is no longer adopted by modern port design; the turnaround times/productivity of ship loading/discharge makes direct to hook delivery impractical, operations need all of the cargo at the port and stacked for multi-port/destination loading before ship arrival. For discharge the cargo needs to be removed from under hook as soon as landed and taken to storage areas for sorting/stacking for specific destination(s).

The construction of the Brynderwyn bypass is particularly important as this will enhance significantly the resilience of the supply-chain infrastructure for the Upper North Island. It will also be vital for 1) unlocking economic growth across the region, 2) securing inward investor confidence, and 3) unleashing Northland’s potential to contribute fully to the national economy. And it’s not just Northport saying this – it’s the voice of business (large and small) right across the region.

We are broadly supportive of the general idea as it has been articulated to date. We look forward to discussions with proponents and sponsors of the concept about the role that they envisage that the Northport Group will be able to play, and how we might bring the full range of our assets – port, land, commercial property and marina – to bear, in order to help turn the concept into economic reality. And to help Northland achieve its ambition of a $60 billion economy by 2050.

There is no reason for Northport to build a purpose-built cruise facility. The cruise industry is happy to berth alongside a commercial wharf facility, especially if that avoids an anchoring situation and disembarking/embarking by tender.

Please see extensive background and additional information here.

We continue to work closely with potential customers that see the opportunity to move out of Auckland and are available to mitigate the challenges facing the industry with the capabilities and space we have here. Northport has continued to discuss an alternative to the current car-import model at Ports of Auckland. We are not suggesting a like-for-like operation but an ‘out of the box’ approach whereby cars are imported into Northport and delivered to an adjacent car storage/preparation facility. Then either collected by the customer directly or delivered door-to-door.

Selling the concept relies on ongoing and effective communication with industry players, while working closely with potential customers that see the opportunity to move out of Auckland.