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July 25 update
Spokesperson Ken Harris has extended an invitation to local interest group Priority Te Puna, as well as other interested parties, to form a consultation group after independent commissioners granted TPIL the enabling consents needed to develop a mixed-use business park on TPIL’s land in Te-Puna Station road.
“We’ve reached out to Priority Te Puna and invited them to be part of the consultation group,” said Mr Harris and offered an engagement protocol agreement to Mana Whenua (Pirirākau). Their input into the ongoing planning and site operations would be greatly valued.”
The Te-Puna business park was zoned industrial in 2005. To progress development in line with the 2005 zoning plan (approved by the Environment Court), TPIL sought enabling consents for the site’s entrance, stormwater management, and landscaping
These consents were lodged in 2022, and following a a publicly notified process that was requested by Priority Te Puna. Public submissions and expert evidence were heard by three independent commissioners, and consent was granted on July 7, 2025.
Priority Te-Puna opposed these consents and have now appealed TPIL’s enabling consents to the Environmental Court. Ken Harris for TPIL stated that “the right of appeal to the environment court was respected and did not concern TPIL. TPIL’s consents were granted after a thorough process that applied an unprecedented level of review to TPIL’s plans”.
The appeal process can be expected to involve conferencing with Priority Te-Puna’s experts and mediation processes that can narrow and focus further additional consideration.
TPIL was established in 2021 and purchased the 14-hectare site, with ContainerCo as a shareholder and future cornerstone tenant.
ContainerCo and associated companies employ around 80 staff locally with head office, hire and sales, refrigeration, container depot, software businesses and parts import and distribution businesses each based in the region.
The business park is subject to a number of conditions, including building height limits, and detailed requirements around traffic management, noise, operating hours, and water management.
Stage one of the development will include landscaping, earthworks, and improved stormwater management. Roading upgrades will also begin this year, including the redesign and rebuilding of a key intersection.
“We’re excited to create a 2-hectare-plus wetland area with a public walkway, and we’re committed to working with the community and Mana Whenua to guide its design and purpose,” said Mr Harris.
“We’d like the wetlands to include educational elements and stories that are important to Mana Whenua.”
There are already three properties operating within the 2005-zoned industrial area. Mr Harris noted that the new business park will build on this existing activity, creating new jobs, improving supply chain productivity across the Bay of Plenty, and fostering valuable partnership opportunities with Mana Whenua.
More Information
ContainerCo operates businesses critical to the region’s export supply chain. Some of these must remain close to the port, while others can operate from suitable satellite locations. Relocating specific teams to a low-density business park like Te Puna frees up limited space on the wharf for shipping and export-focused operations.
Over time, a diverse range of businesses will be established at the site, contributing to both the local economy and community while integrating into the landscape.
ContainerCo’s plans for the site include offices and an industry training centre, hire and sales operations, a container café, an EV truck charger for its shuttle unit, workshops, a container showroom, temperature-controlled cross-dock facilities, reefer support (including wash services), and dry box container services to support local exporters.
More details and images are available at: www.tepunabusinesspark.co.nz