Authority seeks inland port service

By YOKE HAR LEE

Ports of Auckland is scouting for a site for an inland port service not unlike Port of Tauranga's Metroport, located in South Auckland.

The chief executive, Geoff Vazey, said the port authority had looked at a number of locations in the country where exports could be consolidated for shipments. To come up with a viable inland port to capture export cargo was a lot more complex than merely dispersing imports, he said.

"So far, we have not been able to put together a proposal which would be attractive to cargoes. The prime criterion isn't the ability to pick up cargo but finding an innovative way to make the land freight - the truck and train side - work."

Industry sources said the authority had looked at Rotoroa.

"I didn't say Rotoroa, you did," Vazey said. "But we have been looking at a number of locations."

He said running such a service would be different from an inland port in Auckland, which is a natural import distribution centre.