Maersk inaugurated its cutting-edge, fully-integrated cold chain facility at the Ruakura Superhub today, positioning Hamilton as a pivotal hub within New Zealand’s Golden Triangle for freight and logistics operations.
With an impressive investment ranging between NZD 140-150 million ($87-93 million) in the Ruakura facility, Maersk marks this as its most substantial infrastructure venture in the country, according to an official statement.
The state-of-the-art facility effectively extends maritime services inland, offering clients comprehensive end-to-end supply chain solutions encompassing import, export, and cross-docking services. This advancement facilitates seamless goods exchange between various transportation modes like rail and truck, establishing a highly adaptable and efficient supply chain network within the Waikato region and broader New Zealand. Positioned strategically within the Golden Triangle, Hamilton, nestled between Auckland and Tauranga, channels approximately 65 percent of the nation’s total freight traffic through this vital corridor. Maersk’s latest cold chain facility is poised to elevate the region’s bustling economic and freight activities.
Vincent Clerc, Maersk’s CEO, remarked, “New Zealand has long been a linchpin in the global supply chain, with dairy, meat, seafood, and fruits spearheading the primary industry sector driving the country’s economic progress. Across 27 years of operation in New Zealand, we have consistently made substantial investments in our maritime network, ensuring a top-tier experience in terms of capacity, coverage, and reliability. We are committed to nurturing sustained growth and cultivating enduring partnerships with our clientele.”
Kylie Fraser, Managing Director of Maersk Oceania, highlighted, “The prime location of the new facility seamlessly connects the ports of Auckland and Tauranga, streamlining the supply chain for our customers and amplifying the potential for imports and exports to and from New Zealand, all while upholding product quality. The expansion of our service offerings into the cold storage segment presents a significant opportunity for our customers to leverage a state-of-the-art facility as we revolutionize the logistics landscape in New Zealand, simplifying our customers’ supply chains.”
The facility is set to serve Fonterra, New Zealand’s largest dairy company, supporting their operations in the North Island, as per the release. Other notable customers anticipated at the facility include BluePrint Global/NZ Grass-Fed Butter, Mega Foods, and Service Foods.
In a noteworthy collaboration, Maersk has partnered with the local iwi (tribe) Waikato-Tainui, the landowners of the Ruakura Superhub site. Through this partnership, Maersk has made significant social investments in the region by creating job opportunities and offering logistics and supply-chain training programs to uplift community members aspiring to pursue careers in logistics. Acknowledging the historical trading practices of Waikato-Tainui ancestors along the nearby Waikato River, the partnership with Maersk pays homage to this ancient tradition.
Tuku Morgan, Chairman of Te Arataura, the executive committee of Waikato-Tainui, stated, “Collaborating with a global logistics leader like Maersk, who recognized the immense advantages and efficiencies offered by the Ruakura Superhub, epitomizes our vision for the Superhub as a crucial supply chain facilitator and catalyst for regional economic growth. We take pride in partnering with Maersk to bolster their expansion and ongoing contributions to Aotearoa New Zealand, which, in turn, will bolster our efforts to enhance the economic resilience of our 86,000-strong iwi.”
The facility’s design prioritizes environmental sustainability, with initiatives such as solar panel installations on all rooftops, utilization of CO2 instead of ammonia in all freezers, rainwater collection and reuse, and provision of electric charging stations for vehicles, as highlighted in the release.