POT - Stella Passage project referred to fast-track

Stella Passage project referred to fast-track
consenting process by Minister for Infrastructure
Port of Tauranga Limited (NZX:POT) today advised that the Minister for
Infrastructure has accepted its request to refer the Stella Passage
development resource consent application to the fast-track consenting
process.
The application is the same as the one lodged with the Environmental
Protection Authority in April this year as a “listed project” under schedule 2
of the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024.
The new application is running in parallel with the Port’s listed project
application, which is currently on hold following a judicial review by the
High Court. In a decision issued on 27 August, the Court determined that
the Environmental Protection Authority should not have accepted the
application as the project was not exactly as described in schedule 2 of the
Act.
The Government is seeking to rectify the legislative drafting error through
the Fast-track Approvals Amendment Bill, currently before the
Environment Select Committee. Ministers are hopeful the Bill will be
passed into legislation by the end of the year. However, if this proves
impossible, the Port hopes to avoid further delays by having an
alternative, direct referral application already under way.
Port of Tauranga Chief Executive, Leonard Sampson, said the company
needed to expedite the application as quickly as possible.
“We are currently turning away shipping services that want to call at
Tauranga, which is negatively impacting the New Zealand economy.”
The Environment Court has already established that the environmental
impact from the Stella Passage development will, from a Western science
perspective, be minor in the short-term and negligible in the long-term.
Media Release
28 NOVEMBER 2025

However, Port of Tauranga has been unable to reach agreement with opposing iwi and
hapū parties on the appropriate level of mitigation for the cultural impacts of the
development.
The Stella Passage development is one of regional and national significance and involves
extending the Sulphur Point container berth by 385 metres (in two stages) and the
Mount Maunganui wharves by 315 metres, by converting existing cargo storage land
within the port’s current footprint. The project also involves associated dredging for the
necessary vessel turning circle along with minor reclamation of land directly behind the
new wharves.
For more information, please contact:
Rochelle Lockley
GM Communications
021 865 884
Email rochelle.lockley@port-tauranga.co.nz