Port of Auckland is celebrating a major construction milestone at its new Bledisloe North wharf, with the laying of the first precast panel slab marking the beginning of the final phase of construction.
The deck laying phase involves the installation of 290 precast concrete panels, approximately half cast on-site and half off-site, transforming the structure into a ship-ready facility.
The Bledisloe North wharf is Auckland’s first big-ship multi-use wharf and forms part of Port of Auckland’s broader USD 200 million infrastructure investment programme.
Construction is being delivered by HEB, which installed 242 piles as the deck foundation during the first phase, requiring more than 3,800 cubic metres of concrete.
Following installation of the precast panels, HEB will place approximately 2,580 cubic metres of concrete over the panels to form the wharf deck, after which marine furniture and wharf services including fenders and bollards will be installed.
The project received fast-track consent in August 2025, covering approval for the Fergusson North extension as well, which will become the port’s next focus upon completion of Bledisloe North.
Both the wharf and the Te Waharoa International Cruise Terminal, being constructed by Hawkins, remain on track for official opening in March 2027.
Roger Gray, CEO of Port of Auckland, described the milestone as a significant moment for the city, highlighting the investment’s role in unlocking economic growth through expanded cruise tourism and RoRo freight capacity.
He noted that from consent application to project completion will take just two years, citing the fast-track legislation as a key enabler of the accelerated delivery timeline.
