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Todd Dawson (CE) and Kristen Lie
(CFO) made a presentation on the Port’s results for the year.
· Post pandemic rebound
dampened by Cyclone Gabrielle; however as soon as possible geared up to
function as a lifeline and provide response assistance to PanPac, NZ army and
Navy.
· Total trade volumes
decreased by 14.4% to 4,614M tonnes, containerised volume by 12.7% and Bulk
cargo by 12.8% to 3,184 kT, however record revenue of $118.4M achieved
despite challenges.
· Outcomes of the Cyclone
Gabrielle experience include reinforcing the resilience built into Port operations,
staff and facilities; adaptable use of wharves to be able to handle new types
of cargo like wood chips and storm-damaged timber; and flexible supply chain
solutions and cost efficiency measures.
· Outlook is positive with
key cargo customers recovering, fundamentals of food and fibre remaining
strong, record cruise bookings, softer trade markets enabling less sensitive
export volumes, and infrastructure and capability in place.
· In response to a query
about how the Port sees climate change risks presenting, Todd Dawson advised
key risks include the types of cargo impacted by changes in the climate, the
impacts of more frequent severe weather events on the Port itself as well as
infrastructure that supports it (e.g. rail, roads, bridges), and sea level
rise.
· Cyclone Gabrielle highlighted
the fragility of the region’s road and rail transport networks.
· During and following
development of Wharf 6, constant monitoring of silt movements has shown no
negative effects from the wharf development on Pania Reef. Cyclone
Gabrielle had massive effects on Pania Reef including significant silt
deposition. Monitoring of Pania Reef by the Port and others has shown that
fish life is rebounding.
· The Cultural Monitoring
report is not currently available publicly, while the Port continues to work
with Ngati Kahungunu and Ahuriri mana whenua, but will be made available to
the public once it has been completed.
· Aware that consultation
on the Regional Land Transport Plan will be early next year and Napier Port
has been engaged and part of the process through Regional Transport Committee
membership and development of a Regional Freight Strategy through Matariki
that will feed into the RLTP.
· Coastal shipping is quite
a complex picture, with a lot of coastal shipping in NZ already that supports
both container and bulk (aggregates, fuel) trade. Viability of establishing a
domestic feeder network is commercially challenging because many
international vessels go up and down the coast already.
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