Lyttelton Port Company will invest NZD 821 million to develop the Te Awaparahi Bay wharf and container terminal at Lyttelton, driving South Island economic growth and ensuring the long-term resilience of the region's supply chain.
LPC Chair Barry Bragg said the investment marked a significant step for the port, Christchurch and the South Island economy.
“We’ve spent the last decade rebuilding and strengthening the port. Today’s announcement is about creating the capacity, resilience and capability needed for the next generation of South Island trade,” said Bragg.
CCHL Chair Bryan Pearson said the Board’s decision to approve LPC’s major transaction followed extensive due diligence on the project’s strategic need, business case, funding pathway, and long-term benefits for resilience, capacity, and regional growth.
“This approval by CCHL reflects confidence in Christchurch, the South Island economy and our strong belief in Lyttelton Port Company’s role as the South Island’s key international trade gateway,” said Pearson.
The project will be funded through a combination of debt and equity from CCHL.
CCHL’s investment in infrastructure to support South Island businesses, exporters and economic growth will be around NZD 300 million. LPC will fund the rest of the project.
LPC Chief Executive Officer Graeme Sumner said the need for investment was clear, with ageing infrastructure, growing demand, larger ships and increasing export volumes creating the right conditions to move forward.
“The resilience of some of the container berths is a major driver for the project. Rebuilding them would take at least three years and significantly disrupt container operations,” said Sumner.
“Building the Te Awaparahi Bay expansion removes the need to rebuild these wharves and allows the Port to continue operating at full capacity.”
The Te Awaparahi Bay Expansion and Resilience Project will deliver a 388-metre deepwater wharf, future berth capacity and a five-hectare container terminal. The wharf will feature four new ship-to-shore cranes.
The new terminal will feature semi-automated gantry yard cranes, helping the port handle more containers in less space, improving the speed and reliability of terminal operations, and supporting safer, more efficient container movements.
When complete, the Port’s annual berth capacity will be around 850,000 TEU, ensuring projected volume over the coming decades can be managed. The project is expected to be complete by 2031.
Sumner said the announcement followed a period of strong financial performance for LPC, reflecting the commitment of its people and giving the company confidence to invest for the future.
He added that the project reflected confidence in the future of Christchurch, the South Island economy, and the role Lyttelton Port will continue to play as the region’s leading trade gateway, connecting South Island businesses to global markets.
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