Ruakura Superhub set to rumble

Global transport and logistics company Maersk will establish a new coldstore facility at Ruakura Superhub. The site, which was visited by Maersk and Tanui Group Holdings personnel, will include a new, purpose-built 16,000m2 coldstore facility. Photos: Tainui Group Holdings

The Ruakura Superhub is set to officially open on 15 September. The event will cap off 15 years of planning and development for the 490-hectare estate which was returned to Waikato-Tainui as part of the settlement with the Crown in 1995.

Anchoring the Golden Triangle and connected by road and rail, Ruakura Superhub is one of New Zealand’s largest developments – it’s larger than the Auckland CBD and will add around 8 per cent to the urban footprint of Hamilton, on the Eastern boundary.

Ruakura Superhub is recognised as an emerging ‘sweet spot’ for New Zealand’s supply chain, bounded as it is by the East Coast Main Trunk Line and with a dedicated interchange on the recently opened WaikatoExpressway

The 92-hectare stage 1 offers 35 hectares of logistics space and 25 hectares of industrial development space close to the inland port. On completion, this will be surrounded by a 263ha industrial and logistics park with a mix of uses curated to help businesses thrive. of this year with an initial handling capacity of 60,000 TEU per year. A further 8 hectares and 90,000 TEU capacity will be added in stage 2, with the fully built out inland port to encompass 30 hectares.

From day one, the inland port will feature two 800-metre sidings for the East Coast Main Trunk line, with more than 80 scheduled cargo train movements on the line each week between Metroport in Auckland and Port of Tauranga.

Port of Tauranga’s credentials as a port developer and operator are well-known. For its part, TGH is arguably the leading Waikato developer, with a $1.4 billion portfolio and a track record that includes The Base shopping centre at Te Rapa, twin luxury hotels at Auckland airport (joint venture with Auckland Airport) and a new regional centre for ACC in Hamilton.

TGH Supply Chain Strategy Director, Dave Christie says that Ruakura Superhub plays into the evolution of the supply chain and logistics market evolution currently happening in New Zealand. perspective: the cost of land, lease costs, accessways off main transport routes,” says Mr Christie.

“As the business environment evolves rapidly around us, Ruakura enables decisions to be made across four dimensions: property, logistics, sustainability, and growth. These factors help companies future-proof their growth strategies and offers them a significant advantage by enabling a much more productive and resilient supply chain.

“Historically it has made sense to locate in Auckland, but organisations are increasingly being pushed south to Wiri, Drury and beyond. Now, with covid-19 driving significant changes in the world of retail distribution, and in global shipping, the need for robust supply networks is pre-eminent.

“New Zealand organisations need to show scale and volume to attract shipping at the right pricing, so they can bring in cargo efficiently. To drive that you need to aggregate volumes, bringing all supply chains together in one location to drive scale and thus efficiencies.

The Ruakura Superhub is set to officially open on 15 September. The event will cap off 15 years of planning and development for the 490-hectare estate which was returned to Waikato-Tainui as part of the settlement with the Crown in 1995.

Built to handle scale

Ruakura offers space options for businesses looking to create sizeable facilities and future-proof their growth strategies. This is proving well-suited to the requirements in a rapidly evolving logistics market, which is being driven by the rise of wider adoption of ‘just-in-case’ rather than ‘just-in-time’ supply chains, more holding of on-shore inventory, e-commerce and last-mile delivery requirements. A number of logistics and industrial occupiers have already committed, and others are in negotiation.

Kmart, one of New Zealand’s best-known retail brands, will establish a state-of-the-art 40,000 square metre distribution centre at Ruakura Superhub to serve the North Island and wider country, following a planned move from its Wiri site in South Auckland.

The distribution centre will employ around 100 people on a 9-hectare site that includes warehousing, distribution, storage, a container yard, and an office facility. The facility will incorporate autonomous mobile robot technology and is scheduled to be operational in late 2023 to service customers for Kmart’s 25 New Zealand stores. Chill and PBT. The Maersk facility will have more than 16,000sqm of fully convertible temperature-controlled space with temperatures ranging from -25°C to 15°C. It can provide storage for over 21,000 pallets of cold chain products. The facility is targeting a Green Star 5 rating.

“We have seen significant growing demand from exporters, importers and local processors who rely on temperaturecontrolled storage in the region,” says Tony Mildon, Head of Reefer, Maersk Oceania.

“With the new facility in place and its close integration with Maersk’s logistics solutions, we will offer more transparency and visibility of refrigerated cargoes and help customers build more efficient and resilient supply chains.”

Big Chill Chief Executive Michael Roberts says the company’s new 13,000sqm facility at Ruakura Superhub will strengthen its network and take its nationwide roster of depots to an even 10.

“Our new Waikato facility will play an important role in the network, anchoring one corner of the golden triangle and acting as a pivot point for distribution to and from the west coast, central North Island and east coast,” says Mr Roberts. Dave Lovegrove, PBT Express Freight Chief Executive, said the business was excited and honoured to be the first tenant to sign for the Ruakura Superhub.

“Ruakura’s location and exceptional road and rail links make it a natural centre of gravity for our network services to access the rapidly growing upper North Island region, and beyond. We are planning ahead for growth and our initial 4,000 square metre logistics facility at Ruakura Superhub will be future proofed for expansion,” Mr Lovegrove said.

Waitomo Group is developing a 1.6 hectare service centre which will open by the end of this year. It will incorporate a Waitomo Fuel Stop with alternative energy options including hydrogen refuelling and EV charging stations as well as commercial truck refuelling lanes. A touch-free carwash, two quickservice restaurants, a café and a convenience store will round out the offerings.

Managing Director of Waitomo Group Jimmy Ormsby said the flagship Waitomo site at Ruakura cements the company’s commitment to the region it calls home.

Kmart New Zealand will open a new 40,000 sqm distribution centre at the Ruakura Superhub in Hamilton, following a planned move from its distribution centre in Wiri, South Auckland.

Sustainability designed in

Ruakura Superhub has a wide range of features to support cleaner waterways, increased native habitat, improved air quality, and reduced carbon emissions.

Iwi-owned nurseries are cultivating two million native plants for the 10-hectare wetland and the swales which convey storm water across the site, and act as a natural filtration system to ensure that water leaves the site in a better state than it arrived.

Consultancy firm Beca has calculated an overall 10 per cent improvement in ecological values within the development area after 20-30 years. In a visit last year, Minister of Transport Hon Michael Wood acknowledged Ruakura Superhub as a significant step towards the future decarbonisation of New Zealand’s supply chain.

He cited forecasts that the shift from road to rail cargo transport enabled by the inland port will remove 65,000 long haul truck journeys per year when the port is at full capacity, reducing carbon emissions for the region’s importers and exporters. to the most cost-effective and sustainable landside transport network.

There is provision for over 3,000 houses in the master plan for Ruakura and TGH gratefully acknowledges $56.8 million co-funding from the Government through the Provincial Growth Fund and ‘shovel ready’ programmes and a $5 million contribution from Hamilton City Council towards the local roading network.

“Importantly, Ruakura will be an intergenerational asset for Waikato-Tainui and its people – creating thousands of jobs, minimising impact on the land and waterways, and delivering value back into the Waikato and New Zealand economy,” Mr Joblin says.

Dave Lovegrove (left), PBT Express Freight Chief Executive, and Tainui Group Holdings Chief Executive Chris Joblin.