Northport Group’s new chief executive, Rhys Jones, and his family, were welcomed by Patuharakeke into the community this week with a pōwhiri at Takahiwai Marae.

During the pōwhiri, Patuharakeke speakers welcomed the Jones whānau to Te Poupouwhenua and Taitokerau, extending their support as they begin this new chapter in the region and encouraging them to build strong connections with the people and communities of the north.

The Environment Court has granted consents for Northport’s plans for expansion at Marsden Point, bringing to a conclusion more than a decade of design, consultation and negotiation. This latest raft of consents enables the port to realise its vision for a dedicated container handling, storage and logistics facility to support economic growth and supply chain resilience in Northland and the Upper North Island.

The consents have a 35-year term and a 20-year lapse period, giving Northport flexibility to plan expansion around projected freight demand.

Northport Chief Executive Jon Moore is to retire in June next year after 19 years in the role. A maritime sector veteran, Mr Moore (68) led the port’s evolution from a provincial log-port to a regional container port enhancing economic growth and supply chain resilience in Northland and the Upper North Island.

MOVe Oceans, the shipping division of freight and logistics specialist MOVe Logistics Group, has introduced a monthly break-bulk trans-Tasman service linking Northport with Brisbane and Port Alma in Queensland, and Tasmania’s Bell Bay. Northport is the only North Island port on the route, with subsequent calls at Nelson, Dunedin and Bluff.

Some of Northland’s dairy exports are now heading overseas through the region’s own port in a trial involving Fonterra and Kotahi, New Zealand’s largest containerised freight manager.

Containers full of dairy products are now being shipped between Northport and Port of Tauranga on Pacifica Shipping’s weekly container service linking the two ports. The initial trial will use a mix of carriers and see around 100 containers taken off the road. If successful, the arrangement could see up to 800 containers off the road annually, with potential for future growth.

The hearing into Northport’s Resource Consent application concluded on Tuesday this week (4 June), some 20 months after the application was lodged and about eight months after proceedings began with a range of verbal submissions at Semenoff Stadium in Whangārei and at Takahiwai Marae.

The panel of independent commissioners, led by Commissioner Greg Hill, now has the task of reviewing the evidence and submissions presented during the process. Northport anticipates that a decision about the application will be made at some point in Q3 this year.

The first scheduled cruise ship to call at Whangārei berthed at Northport at 0700hrs today (Sunday 4 February), helping to cement the 2023/2024 cruise season as New Zealand’s biggest to date. Oceania Cruises’ MS Regatta, with about 650 passengers aboard, was the first of three cruise calls scheduled for the region this summer, with five more due over the 2024/2025 season and a further three in early 2026.

Rhys Jones today assumes the role of chief executive of Northport Group. He will oversee the continued integration of Northport and Marsden Maritime Holdings, and the group’s drive to realise the potential of the combined port and land business for commercial growth and Northland regional economic development.