CentrePort has invested in a new regional hub in the Wairarapa.
The Waingawa log hub, near Masterton, supports the fast growing and valuable forestry sector through a reliable and cost effective transport connection, ensuring exporters remain internationally competitive.
Transport Minister Simon Bridges officially opened the venture this morning.
The project is the result of a successful partnership between Wellington’s port company CentrePort, Forest Enterprises Limited and Farman Turkington Forestry with the support of KiwiRail.
It is served by daily KiwiRail freight trains, connecting the Wairarapa region to CentrePort and to the world.
The development follows a period of sustained growth for the log trade in the Lower North Island.
Log volumes through CentrePort have grown by nearly 100% in the last five years, with further increases forecasted as a large volume of trees in the region reach maturity.
CentrePort Chief Executive, Derek Nind said, “the Waingawa log hub offers regional log exporters a sustainable, reliable, economic way of moving large volumes of logs to the port.
“Part of our long-term strategy is to invest in infrastructure, develop strategic partnerships and create seamless road and rail connections from the hinterland to our seaport. This will help unlock the potential of Central New Zealand.”
KiwiRail’s Group General Manager for Sales and Commercial Alan Piper said, “this is a great example of road and rail integration. Using Waingawa as a staging point for logs means that they can then be moved efficiently through to CentrePort on rail. I am certain the regular users of the Rimutaka Hill Road will appreciate the benefits that avoiding over 16,000 more truck trips on this stretch of road will have.”
Managing Director of Forest Enterprises, Steve Wilton said, “CentrePort’s investment in the hub has provided an efficient, secure and long term logistics channel to the port which is vital to our ability to successfully harvest in the Wairarapa. This is why we have taken a long term lease of approximately 50% of the footprint at Waingawa, complementing our long term commitment to log storage at CentrePort.”
Farman Turkington Forestry Partner Guy Farman said, “The commitment shown by CentrePort, as well as all the other stakeholders to make this hub work has been extremely
pleasing. It’s been really satisfying to see the hub and the port develop over the last few years. It’s certainly given us the confidence to take a long term lease at the Waingawa hub and expand our operations.”
In 2015 CentrePort, with its customers and service providers, contributed $2.5 billion to New Zealand’s GDP, 39% higher than in 2009. This contribution is increasing each year. Since 2009 CentrePort’s cargo volume has increased by 25 percent.1
The Government has the objective of doubling the value of primary industry exports by 2025.
