A brand-new $42 million facility being opened by DHL at Christchurch Airport this week is expected to bring meaningful economic benefits to the growing region.
It was jam-packed with upgraded technology, including an automatic parcel conveyor system that could process up to 6500 inbound parcels per hour, and a high-speed X-ray machine – five times faster than in the existing Christchurch facility.
The gateway was described by DHL in April as its "largest infrastructure commitment in New Zealand to date", enhancing the multinational logistics company’s South Island capacity and efficiency.
The 8500sqm facility was expected to create jobs, strengthen local supply chains, and provide South Island businesses with better access to international markets.
Managing director of DHL Express New Zealand and Pacific Islands Mark Foy told 1News Christchurch was the company's fastest growing market for the last five years.
New sorting plant will create jobs, strengthen local supply chains, and give businesses better access to international markets. (Source: 1News)
This was mostly off the back of a change in customer behaviour during and post-Covid, with the rising popularity of e-commerce stores.
He also wanted to support exporters.
"There's still a manufacturing hub here and we support those manufacturers to be able to export their goods out of Christchurch and so we see that growth continuing over the long run.
"It allows New Zealand exporters and importers to get their goods to market faster than ever before."
DHL said the investment came at a time of “strong export momentum”, with the company recording 104% shipment growth in the South Island since 2019.
A 2025 ExportNZ-DHL survey showed 79% of Kiwi exporters had maintained or raised exports over the previous 12 months, while 59% predicted they’d increase them in 2026.
Foy acknowledged the impact of the cost of jet fuel on DHL, and said they were seeing about a 20% increase in the cost of freight parcels.
"The freight's cost and the cost of fuel will be passed on to the business that's shipping the goods or the consumer that's shipping the goods."
The gateway featured plenty of automation technology, including a parcel-sorting conveyor belt system that could process up to 6500 inbound parcels per hour and 5600 outbound.
The new building would be DHL’s first 100% carbon-neutral building in New Zealand, incorporating solar power and EV charging infrastructure.
'Absolutely fabulous' – Christchurch Airport CE
Christchurch International Airport chief executive Justin Watson told 1News it was an investment in the future.
"We think it's absolutely fabulous to have such a massive global player like DHL invest so significantly in Christchurch, in the South Island, and really be an anchor tenant for our freight hub that we're developing here."
Christchurch was the primary freight hub for South Island imports and exports, he said. The facility's location right beside the planes on the tarmac would streamline the logistics process, ultimately benefitting customers.
The number of dedicated freight planes that passed through Christchurch Airport had gone from around two or three a day pre-Covid to up to 18 return services, he said.
SHARE ME