The development of Te Utanganui, Manawatū’s unique intermodal distribution hub, is a transformative project that is redefining the region’s economic landscape and strengthening the national freight and distribution network for the future.
Strategically positioned in the heart of New Zealand, Manawatū has long served as a natural distribution center, a role it has played since 1939. Te Utanganui builds on this legacy as the central node in Aotearoa’s logistics network, seamlessly complementing the Golden Triangle and southern Christchurch hubs. The vision for Te Utanganui is to attract more national and global partners, enhance supply chain resilience, and future-proof operations.
The name, Te Utanganui, gifted in 2021 by Rangitāne o Manawatū, reflects the concept of an inland port where transient goods arrive by sea, sky, and land, and then depart—ki tai.
The multi-year project is accelerating at pace. We recently spoke with Robbie Woods, Programme Director for Te Utanganui, and Jerry Shearman CEDA’s CEO to discuss the recent developments of the project and what lies ahead for the future.
Te Utanganui is positioned to meet shifting consumer habits
Te Utanganui is more than just infrastructure—it is a strategically designed project aimed at meeting the demands of a rapidly changing world. As e-commerce rises and consumer habits shift, the need for efficient supply chains and logistics networks has never been greater. Te Utanganui anticipates these needs by enabling land development and infrastructure for the future, ensuring not only Manawatū, but central New Zealand is equipped to support our country’s growing reliance on warehousing, transport, and logistics.
“Te Utanganui delivers the changing requirements of service provision,” says Jerry. “It enables the region to meet future demands while supporting broader economic activity.”
One of Te Utanganui’s standout features is its integrated planning approach. By centralising logistics activity into one area of the region, the project addresses significant challenges in how freight is currently moved around. This includes working collectively across stakeholders to remove freight traffic from inner-city streets, making roads safer, reducing congestion, and extending the lifespan of infrastructure. The current system doesn’t fully enable inter-regional freight movements—a gap that Te Utanganui is quickly closing.
The first of its kind: a collaborative approach to freight distribution
The project’s unique proposition lies in its multi-agency partnership model, bringing together iwi partners, KiwiRail, New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, local and regional councils, landowners, and other stakeholders. This collaborative approach ensures shared responsibility and collective progress towards leveraging Te Utanganui’s role as one of the three key logistics hubs for New Zealand. “This isn’t just about one organisation; it’s a shared vision that unites public and private entities across the country,” Robbie explains.
Jerry echoes this sentiment: “Te Utanganui is a prime example of how meaningful collaboration can drive innovation. By working together, we’re building not just infrastructure but a national asset that will benefit communities across New Zealand and future proof our national distribution and logistics network,” Jerry explains.
The current priorities and opportunities for Te Utanganui
Te Utanganui is already a thriving logistics hub, home to over 60 businesses, with major players like Australian Defence Apparel,
Foodstuffs, Primary Connect - Woolworths, Hiringa Energy and Tyre Max joining in the past two years.
Looking to the future, significant infrastructure developments are on the horizon. The progression of key projects such as KiwiRail’s planned Regional Freight Hub, or the Manawatū Regional Freight Ring Road will further solidify Te Utanganui's position as a national logistics powerhouse.
Palmerston North City Council and Manawatū District Council have laid the critical groundwork, by enabling current and future industrial land through a comprehensive rezoning and future development strategy and planning the delivery of key enabling infrastructure such as the ring road. The councils focus on developing and expanding the Palmerston North Airport’s Ruapehu AeroPark and North East Industrial Zone business precincts, alongside the Kawakawa Industrial Precinct, provide three interconnected and compelling propositions for businesses and investors looking to lease or build here, to leverage Te Utanganui’s unique cluster of services and central positioning.
Robbie Woods, the first dedicated team member of Te Utanganui since the project's inception in 2019, sees this as a critical step forward. “It’s exciting to be part of the early stages of something so transformational. The groundwork we’re laying now will set Te Utanganui up for decades of growth and innovation,” says Robbie. Over the next five years, the aim is to fully establish the project management office, ensuring that Te Utanganui continues to drive strategic growth for central New Zealand and beyond, and deliver on its bold vision.
The road ahead
Te Utanganui’s development will not only respond to projected growth and evolving service demands but also actively drive it. By fostering economic ecosystems that encourage business expansion and innovation, Te Utanganui is setting the stage for transformative regional and national impacts.
Te Utanganui is a fast-growing hub for large national and multinational companies, enabling them to ship goods around the Aotearoa and the world from a central, strategically designed logistics base. At this pace of expansion and development, Te Utanganui will create an extraordinary number of high-value jobs, both locally and across New Zealand, while catalysing investment and growth in associated sectors like housing, hospitality, and tourism.
Get In Touch
Jerry Shearman
Chief Executive - Tumuaki
Central Economic Development Agency (CEDA)
Email: [email protected]
