Published: Tuesday, 1 September 2026
Teams from across LPC are coming together to deliver the $821 million Te Awaparahi Bay Expansion and Resilience Project.
Expected to be completed by 2031, the project will deliver a 388-metre deepwater wharf, a five-hectare container terminal, four new ship-to-shore cranes and semi-automated yard cranes.
A request for expressions of interest (EOI) to construct the wharf has been released to the market as LPC begins engaging specialist contractors and suppliers of cranes and equipment.
Construction is also progressing for a 24-desk project office within part of the Woolstore at Te Ana Marina, which will bring industry and project team members together in one location.
Chief Marine and Infrastructure Officer Jeremy Homan said the project is one of the largest port infrastructure developments undertaken in New Zealand in recent decades and will deliver benefits well beyond LPC.
“It’s significant not just for LPC, but for the wider South Island, exporters and shipping customers who will have access to modern infrastructure that strengthens the supply chain.”
The wharf design is nearing completion and the EOI for the main wharf has been released to industry, with construction due to start in mid-2027. Contracts for the design of the new reefer towers are being progressed, and dredging of the berth pocket is due to start in late 2026.
The project is also driving work across supporting infrastructure, including upgrades to high-voltage electrical networks to support new electric equipment. The Information Services team is heavily involved in designing the on-site data centres and new network, extending the private 5G network, and ensuring all new equipment integrates with the existing N4 Terminal Operating System (TOS). The Marine team is working with suppliers to identify options for a third tug to support future operations.
The project is already bringing together expertise from across LPC, with teams contributing to the planning and delivery of the physical, technological and marine infrastructure needed to support the Port’s future. As work progresses, more LPC people will become involved, helping to deliver a modern, resilient container terminal that strengthens LPC’s operations and supports future growth for Christchurch, Canterbury and the wider South Island.