Expanding the Port of Tauranga to host larger ships is key to doubling New Zealand’s export economy over the next decade, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.

Growing the economy, improving incomes, creating jobs and increasing people’s living standards were important, Willis told NZME during a visit to Tauranga on Tuesday.

“The Port of Tauranga is critical to that strategy,” she said.

It accounted for almost half of New Zealand’s exports, but Willis said not being able to berth bigger ships was holding the port back.

“In that context, we want to see it growing. We want to get the barriers out of the way that have prevented that growth,” she said.

“So we have legislated for two projects related to the wharf to be fast-tracked.”

Finance Minister Nicola Willis paid a visit to Trimax Moving Systems in Tauranga during her visit.

The Port of Tauranga has been working since early 2019 to gain permission to dredge more material from the Stellar Passage access channel, and extend its Sulphur Point and Mount Maunganui wharves.

The proposal is going through an Environment Court process for resource consent.

A port spokeswoman said given the project’s urgency, it was preparing to lodge an application under the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024 by the end of this month.

Willis said after the application was submitted, it would be examined by a panel of experts.

The Port of Tauranga currently accounts for about half of New Zealand's exports. Photo/ Mike Scott

“It’s expected to be expedited, faster process,” she said.

“The decision will be made in a matter of months and not years.”

She said a sped-up timeline would be good for all involved.

“It’s good for the investors, it’s good for the employees, it’s good for everyone.”

The proposed dredging project would involve removing about 1.5 million cubic metres of material and seabed reconstruction in about 10.55 hectares of navigation channels in Tauranga Harbour, according to the port’s website.

The Sulphur Point berth extension would allow the container terminal to host three or four ships simultaneously instead of the current two, while extending the Mount Maunganui wharf would also relieve capacity pressure.

Once the application is submitted and accepted, a panel will examine it. Photo / Mike Scott

Willis said the two projects had been “in and out of consent and processes for many years, which is creating a lot of uncertainty, delay, and cost”.

“The goal of the fast-track approach is to get them straight to a panel, looks at them (the projects) with urgency.”

Iwi and hapū groups had raised concerns about the harbour changes, particularly around environmental and cultural impacts.

Willis said the panel overseeing the fast-track application would look at their concerns.

“The panel will have to evaluate the concerns that iwi and hapū have raised, including the environmental effects.”

Shifting sands and dredging could have an environmental impact, but growing the economy would generate wealth to help conservation projects, she said.

“Growth isn’t necessarily bad for the environment.”

“There’s evidence around the world that economies that grow faster are better at protecting their environment.”

The Port of Tauranga is New Zealand's largest container terminal. Photo / Mike Scott

Being able to mitigate the environmental impact of these projects was important as halting all development in general could stagnate New Zealand’s economy, she said.

“If we take that approach, we will never get better.”

Willis said people in Tauranga deserved higher incomes, more opportunities, and more jobs.

“That is going to require new development.”

The changes to the port would have a flow-on effect for residents of Tauranga, she said, with more economic activity coming into the city.

“That’s what’s needed to support the infrastructure that people in Tauranga want to see now, whether that’s roads or housing.”

The Port of Tauranga is just one of the infrastructure projects the coalition Government has committed to, with Tauriko West, State Highway 29 and the two stages of the Takitimu North Link.

“We recognise that those roading projects are important not just for relief and congestion. But enabling more housing development.”

The Government was also advancing funds and financing tools for the local council to support infrastructure for more development.

“That’s the pipes and the footpaths.”