'Enormous frustration': inside the six-year, $12m slog to expand Port of Tauranga

The view towards Mauao from one of the large ship-to-shore cranes at Port of Tauranga. (Image: BusinessDesk)

Mon, 23 Jun 2025

The biggest port in the country is facing a capacity crunch. Oliver Lewis reports on the six-year journey to consent a new berth at Port of Tauranga. If you look north from the 40m high boom of one of the ship-to-shore cranes at Port of Tauranga, you see Mauao – the maunga standing sentry at the head of the harbour. Look south, towards the harbour bridge connecting central Tauranga with Mount Maunganui, and you can see a row of weathered wooden piles.The port has been trying, unsuccessfully, to get consent for a berth extension here...

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