- Hon Chris Bishop
- Hon Shane Jones
The Stella Passage Development enabling a major expansion project at the Port of Tauranga has been granted fast-track approval says Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones.
This is the 34th project approved through the Fast-track process.
Port of Tauranga Limited lodged its application in January 2026, with approval taking around five months from the appointment of an independent expert panel.
The redevelopment of the Sulphur Point and Mount Maunganui wharves at the Port will enable each wharf to be extended by more than 300 metres, allow the installation of new container cranes on the Sulphur Point Wharf, and include the dredging of Stella Passage in Tauranga Harbour to provide sufficient clearance for vessels to berth at the extended wharves.
“The project has a lengthy history under the RMA, spending roughly seven years navigating standard RMA processes and Environment Court hearings. In 2021, the project applied for Fast-track through the COVID-19 fast-track system and was declined referral,” Mr Bishop says.
“Fast-track meant this project received all the necessary approvals in around five months from the appointment of an expert panel.
“The Port of Tauranga is New Zealand’s largest port by volume, handling roughly a third of all cargo in New Zealand. Current activities at the wharves are constrained by limited container capacity, vessel congestion and the age of the existing infrastructure.
“The Stella Passage Development will address these constraints by enabling larger ships and almost doubling the handling capacity at the Port. This will improve the movement of imports and exports and deliver significant economic and other benefits for the region and New Zealand.”
“This development will ensure our exporters can continue to reach global markets efficiently and competitively. It is exactly the type of project Fast-track was designed to enable infrastructure that delivers enduring economic value, supports regional development, and keeps New Zealand open for business,” Mr Jones says.
Notes to editor
More information about the project: Stella Passage Development
Fast-track by the numbers:
- 34 projects approved by expert panels.
- 17 projects with expert panels appointed.
- 68 projects are currently progressing through the Fast-track process. 34 active substantive and 34 referral applications.
- 68 projects have been referred to Fast-track by the Minister for Infrastructure
- 149 projects are listed in Schedule 2 of the Fast-track Approvals Act, meaning they can apply for Fast-track approval.
- On average, it has taken 118 working days for decisions on substantive applications from when officials determine an application is complete and in-scope.
Fast-track projects approved by expert panels:
- Arataki [Housing/Land]
- Ashbourne [Housing/Land]
- Ayrburn Screen Hub [Infrastructure]
- Bledisloe North Wharf and Fergusson North Berth Extension [Infrastructure]
- Delmore [Housing/Land]
- Downtown Carpark Site Development [Housing/Land]
- Drury Metropolitan Centre – Consolidated Stages 1 and 2 [Housing/Land]
- Drury Quarry Expansion – Sutton Block [Mining/Quarrying]
- Foxton Solar Farm [Renewable Energy]
- Green Steel [Infrastructure]
- Haldon Solar [Renewable energy]
- Hananui Aquaculture [Aquaculture]
- Homestead Bay [Housing/Land]
- Kaimai Hydro-Electric Power Scheme [Renewable energy]
- Kings Quarry Expansion – Stages 2 and 3 [Mining/Quarrying]
- Lake Pūkaki Hydro Storage and Dam Resilience Works [Renewable energy]
- Māhinerangi Wind Farm [Renewable energy]
- Maitahi Village [Housing/Land]
- Milldale – Stages 4C and 10 to 13 [Housing/Land]
- North West Rapid Transit [Infrastructure]
- Pound Road [Housing/Land]
- Rangitoopuni [Housing/Land]
- Ryans Road [Housing/Land]
- Southland Wind Farm Project [Renewable energy]
- State Highway 1 North Canterbury – Woodend Bypass Project (Belfast to Pegasus) [Infrastructure]
- Stella Passage Development [Infrastructure]
- Sunfield [Housing/Land]
- Takitimu North Link – Stage 2 [Infrastructure]
- Tekapo Power Scheme – Applications for Replacement Resource Consents [Renewable energy]
- The Point Mission Bay [Housing/Land]
- Waihi North [Mining/Quarrying]
- Waitaha Hydro [Renewable energy]
- Waitākere District Court – New Courthouse Project [Infrastructure]
- Wellington International Airport Southern Seawall Renewal [Infrastructure]
Expert panels have been appointed for:
- 188 Beaumont Street
- Alternative to the Brynderwyn Hills
- Auckland Prison Capacity Increase
- Auckland Surf Park Community – Stage 2
- Barrytown Minerals Project
- Bendigo-Ophir Gold Project
- Bream Bay Sand Extraction Project
- Central and Southern Block Mining Project
- Hunua Quarry Development
- Mt Iron Junction
- Mt Welcome, Pukerua Bay, Porirua
- Ōhoka Residential Subdivision
- Remarkables Ski Area Upgrades and Doolans Expansion Project
- Southern Link Inland Port
- The Point Solar Farm
- Twizel Solar Farm
- Waikanae North Development
