A major expansion of the Port of Tauranga has been given the green light under the Government’s fast-track consenting regime, clearing the way for longer wharves, new container cranes and extensive dredging of Tauranga Harbour.
Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones announced that the Stella Passage Development has received fast-track approval, making it the 34th project approved through the process.
Port of Tauranga Limited lodged its application in January 2026, with the required approvals secured approximately five months after an independent expert panel was appointed to consider the proposal.
The project will substantially expand infrastructure at the Sulphur Point and Mount Maunganui wharves. Both wharves will be extended by more than 300 metres, while new container cranes will be installed at Sulphur Point.
Stella Passage in Tauranga Harbour will also be dredged to provide sufficient clearance for vessels using the extended wharves.
Bishop said the approval followed years of attempts to advance the project through conventional Resource Management Act processes.
“The project has a lengthy history under the RMA, spending roughly seven years navigating standard RMA processes and Environment Court hearings,” he said.
An attempt to have the development referred through the previous COVID-19 fast-track consenting system was declined in 2021.
Bishop said the new fast-track system had enabled all necessary approvals to be obtained in about five months following the appointment of the expert panel.
The Port of Tauranga is New Zealand’s largest port by cargo volume and handles approximately one-third of the country’s freight. According to the Government, its existing operations are increasingly constrained by limited container capacity, vessel congestion and ageing infrastructure.
The Stella Passage project is expected to allow larger vessels to use the port and almost double its cargo-handling capacity.
Bishop said the increased capacity would improve the movement of imports and exports while delivering economic benefits for both the Bay of Plenty and the wider country.
Jones said the development would strengthen New Zealand exporters’ access to international markets and demonstrated the type of major infrastructure investment the fast-track regime was intended to accelerate.
“This development will ensure our exporters can continue to reach global markets efficiently and competitively,” Jones said, describing the project as infrastructure capable of delivering long-term economic and regional benefits.
Image credit: Will Waters
