Ports of Auckland Limited and Napier Port have signed a strategic alliance agreement to deliver operational, economic, sustainability and community benefits.

According to POAL, the two ports will collaborate under the partnership to optimize services for freight customers, achieve further scale and efficiencies in the supply chain, and help lower costs to exporters and importers.

“There is a natural fit between Ports of Auckland and Napier Port,” said Tony Gibson, chief executive of Ports of Auckland [right in photo]. “We share a similar way of working, common customers and supply chain opportunities and have similar ownership structures so that’s a great base to work from.”

Garth Cowie, chief executive of Napier Port [left in photo], said that the alliance also creates an opportunity to collaborate, share best practice and innovate in technology, health and safety and sustainability.

“Napier Port’s vision is to be central New Zealand’s leading provider of port and logistics solutions,” he said. “This alliance fits with the natural flow of freight in the North Island, based on ports close to demand centres and Auckland’s weighting towards imports and our strong export base.”

The two ports already operate a joint venture at Palmerston North’s Longburn regional freight hub.