High court halts Port of Tauranga's Stella Passage development

A judicial review of Port of Tauranga's fast-track application for the Stella Passage development has been upheld by the High Court.

The court determined that the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) should not have accepted the port's application, as the project did not align with the description in schedule 2 of the legislation.

As a result, the Fast-track Panel, which was set to commence on September 1, is now on hold pending further direction from the court.

Port of Tauranga chief executive, Leonard Sampson, expressed frustration, stating that a project worth hundreds of millions of dollars to the New Zealand economy should not be delayed due to a drafting oversight.

He highlighted the negative impact on the port's operations, including the need to turn away shipping lines and a proposed new service to the Americas.

The port is now urging the government to rectify the wording in the fast-track legislation.