CentrePort
CentrePort is a council-owned port operator in Wellington, New Zealand, handling containers, bulk fuel, cruise ships, Cook Strait ferries, and log exports across approximately 4 million tonnes of annual freight for shipping lines, ferry operators, and exporters.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1993
- HeadquartersWellington, New Zealand
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CentrePort does
CentrePort Limited is a privately held, council-owned port operator headquartered at Shed 39, 2 Fryatt Quay, Wellington, New Zealand, with a regional hub at Riverlands near Blenheim operated in partnership with Port Marlborough. The company runs the natural sheltered deep-water harbour as a multi-service logistics platform, handling marine services (pilotage, tugs, pilot launches), container handling (86,128 TEU), break bulk and bulk fuel (942,102 tonnes), cruise calls (73 ships and 125,863 passengers in FY25), and Cook Strait ferry infrastructure supporting KiwiRail and Ferry Holdings. Total freight throughput is approximately 4 million tonnes annually.
The technology stack underpinning operations includes NZ's first Māori-built commercial Private 5G network (deployed November 2025 with Tū Ātea), a pilot 1.5MWh/750kW Battery Energy Storage System with Panasonic NZ (April 2025), on-site solar arrays (122kW at Shed 39, 430kW planned at Kings Wharf), and customer-facing digital platforms — the Centric Web Portal for shipping schedules and cargo tracking, PortConnect (shared with Port of Auckland and Port of Tauranga) for vessel schedules, and the Web Depot Portal for empty container operations. CentreConnect extends inland cargo services through a Marlborough partnership.
CentrePort makes money primarily through published port tariffs charged as transaction fees for berthage, pilotage, mooring, container handling, cruise calls, ferry infrastructure, bulk fuel handling, and log marshalling. Customer segments are dominated by a small set of large enterprise accounts — international container liner operators (COSCO/OOCL, MSC), Cook Strait ferry operators (KiwiRail, Ferry Holdings), forestry exporters (Zindia Forestry, Oji Fibre Solutions, QUBE), and cruise lines — served through direct B2B sales. The company has delivered FY24 gross revenue of $106.2m NZD and underlying NPAT of $17.6m in FY25 (up 20% YoY), with a 30% compounded annual NPAT growth rate since FY22, and pays dividends to its two shareholding regional councils (Greater Wellington Regional Council and Horizons Regional Council).
CentrePort firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CentrePort
- Legal name
- CentrePort Limited
- Website
- https://centreport.co.nz
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1993
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- CentrePort is a council-owned port operator in Wellington, New Zealand, handling containers, bulk fuel, cruise ships, Cook Strait ferries, and log exports across approximately 4 million tonnes of annual freight for shipping lines, ferry operators, and exporters.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CentrePort industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Port Operations & Maritime Logistics
- NAICS
- Port and Harbor Operations (488310), Marine Cargo Handling (488320), Marine Cargo Handling (48832), Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883)
- SIC
- Water Transportation (4400)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Maritime & Port Authorities (Public Ports, Harbors, Ferries Terminals) (BPAIALAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Deep-Sea Container Terminals (Mainline / Transshipment Hubs) (TLAHAAAA), Stevedoring & Vessel Loading/Discharging (Ship-to-Shore Operations) (TLAHALAA), Terminal Cargo Handling & Yard Operations (Receiving, Staging, Delivery) (TLAHALAB), Port Equipment Operations (Crane Operators, RTG/RMG, Straddle Carrier Operations) (TLAHALAE)
Keywords
Where CentrePort is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Wellington
- HQ country
- New Zealand
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices2 records
Markets served
CentrePort business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Port Service Fees: Charges for vessels calling at the port, including berthage, pilotage, and mooring services for shipping lines and ferry operators.
- Container Handling: Charges for loading, unloading, and handling of containerised cargo including exports (logs) and imports. Handles approximately 86,128 TEU annually.
- Cruise Services: Revenue from cruise ship calls and passenger services. Handled 73 cruise ship calls and 125,863 cruise passengers in FY25.
- Ferry Services: Revenue from Cook Strait ferry operations supporting KiwiRail and Ferry Holdings through Port Marlborough partnership.
- Bulk Fuel Handling: Revenue from bulk fuel discharge and storage services. Handled 942,102 tonnes of bulk fuel in the measurement period.
- Log Exports: Revenue from containerised log export services through partnerships with Zindia Forestry and QUBE marshaller operations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Port tariff system — not publicly disclosed |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
CentrePort product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CentrePort Wellington operates a full-service commercial port at Wellington Harbour, providing marine services (pilotage, tugs, pilot launches), container handling, break bulk and bulk fuel handling, cruise ship berthing and passenger services, and Cook Strait ferry infrastructure support. The port handles approximately 4 million tonnes of freight annually, 86,128 TEU of containers, 942,102 tonnes of bulk fuel, and 125,863 cruise passengers (FY25), connecting New Zealand's import/export trade with international shipping lines including COSCO/OOCL and MSC.
Product overview
CentrePort Wellington operates as a full-service port offering a unified platform of maritime and logistics services. The core portfolio includes Marine Services (pilotage, tugs, launches), Container Services (receival, delivery, dangerous goods, reefer capacity), Break Bulk and Fuel, Cruise Services, and Cook Strait Ferries infrastructure. Customer-facing digital products include Centric Web Portal for shipping visibility, PortConnect for vessel schedules, and Web Depot Portal for container operations. Infrastructure technology initiatives include a Private 5G Network (NZ's first Māori-built commercial 5G with Tū Ātea), Battery Energy Storage System (1.5MWh/750kW pilot with Panasonic NZ), and Solar Arrays (122kW Shed 39 roof, 430kW Kings Wharf planned). CentreConnect provides cargo hub services via Marlborough partnership. The port handles approximately 4 million tonnes of freight annually.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Marine Services Comprehensive marine operations including pilotage, tug services, and pilot launches for vessel movement management in Wellington Harbour. Covers vessel navigation assistance, mooring support, and emergency response for shipping lines and commercial vessels.
- Container Services Full container handling services including receipt, delivery, storage, and dangerous goods management for import and export containers. Includes refrigerated container (reefer) capacity and empty container depot operations for shipping lines, importers, and exporters.
- Break Bulk and Fuel Specialized handling services for non-containerized cargo (break bulk) and bulk fuel operations including loading, unloading, and storage of liquid bulk commodities. CentrePort handled 942,102 tonnes of bulk fuel in the measurement period.
- Cruise Services Complete cruise ship port services including berthing, passenger facilities, shore excursions coordination, and cruise passenger information services for international cruise lines calling at Wellington. Handled 73 cruise ship calls and 125,863 passengers in FY25.
- Cook Strait Ferries Infrastructure Marine infrastructure development and support services for Interislander ferry operations, including marine infrastructure development at Kaiwharawhara for new rail-enabled ferries, scheduled for completion by 2029. Supports KiwiRail and Ferry Holdings operations across the Cook Strait.
- CentreConnect Cargo hub and logistics service connecting Marlborough exporters to international markets through partnership with Port Marlborough. Includes inland cargo site at Riverlands near Blenheim with road and rail links to Port at Picton.
- Centric Web Portal Customer-facing web portal for viewing shipping schedules, tracking cargo, and pre-advising export containers. Provides real-time access to shipping information and operational data for port customers.
- PortConnect Platform
Quantifiable outcome
- Ranked #1 container port in Oceania by the World Bank Container Port Performance Index
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use CentrePort
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
CentrePort technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature5 records
CentrePort partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Tū ĀteacorePartnership with Tū Ātea for the deployment of a private 5G network at the port, enabling connected operations, smart logistics, and digital transformation of port services.
- Port MarlboroughcoreStrategic partnership with Port Marlborough for a Marlborough hub at Riverlands near Blenheim, extending CentrePort's regional footprint and supporting Cook Strait ferry operations.
- PortConnectcorePartnership for the PortConnect digital platform providing vessel schedule information and port connectivity for shipping lines and logistics operators.
- Zindia ForestrycorePartnership with Zindia Forestry for containerised log exports, handling approximately 1.86 million JAS of log volume through CentrePort's facilities.
- QUBEminorPartnership with QUBE for log marshaller operations supporting containerised log export services at CentrePort.
- WellingtonNZminorCollaboration with WellingtonNZ on cruise tourism promotion, positioning Wellington as a destination port and attracting cruise line calls and passenger traffic.
- KiwiRail / Ferry HoldingscorePartnership with KiwiRail and Ferry Holdings for Cook Strait ferry services, in conjunction with Port Marlborough, providing critical passenger and freight connectivity across the Cook Strait.
- COSCO / OOCLcoreInternational shipping service partner providing container liner services to and from Wellington through COSCO and OOCL.
- MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company)coreInternational shipping service partner providing container liner services to and from Wellington through MSC.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
CentrePort competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Port of Auckland: Auckland's main container and cruise port, co-owner of PortConnect with Port of Tauranga. Directly comparable as a full-service NZ container terminal handling TEU, bulk fuel, breakbulk, and cruise passengers with a similar mix of shipping line and importer/exporter customers.
- Port Marlborough: Top of the South Island port operator at Picton and Havelock, and CentrePort's strategic partner for the Marlborough hub and Cook Strait ferry operations. Comparable as a regional NZ port handling forestry, ferry infrastructure, and recreational craft.
- Northport: Upper North Island deep-water container and bulk port at Marsden Point, partly owned by Port of Tauranga. Comparable as a container and bulk handling port competing for North Island forestry and import volumes with similar infrastructure intensity.
- Timaru Container Terminal: Mid-Canterbury container terminal operated by PrimePort under long-term lease, also part of the PortConnect network. Comparable as a smaller-scale NZ container terminal handling dairy, meat, and forestry exports with a similar shipping line customer base.
- Lyttelton Port Company: South Island's largest container port serving Canterbury, listed on the NZX. Comparable as a container, bulk fuel, and cruise port competing for NZ import/export and shipping line volume, with overlapping liner and exporter customers.
- Napier Port: Hawke's Bay-based container, bulk, and log export port, NZX-listed. Directly comparable as a regional NZ container terminal handling forestry, wood products, and containerised cargo, with a similar exporter/shipping line customer base to CentrePort.
- Port of Tauranga: New Zealand's largest container port by volume and export gateway for forestry, dairy, and kiwifruit. Directly comparable as a multi-purpose NZ container port serving similar importer/exporter and shipping line customers, and co-owner of the PortConnect platform CentrePort has now joined.
Regional players
- Tasmanian Ports Corporation: Australian state-owned port operator across Tasmania. Comparable as a regional, government-owned multi-port operator handling container, bulk, ferry, and cruise services, providing a like-for-like governance and scale benchmark for CentrePort.
- Eastland Port: East Cape regional port at Gisborne, focused on forestry and container exports. Comparable as a smaller NZ forestry-export port competing with CentrePort's log export flows but operating in a different geography.
Broad incumbents
- Port of Newcastle (Australia): Major Australian bulk and container port in NSW. Comparable as a diversified port authority handling container, bulk, and cruise with similar asset intensity and decarbonisation challenges, providing a public-market benchmark for council/regional-owned port economics.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses2 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CentrePort social profiles
Digital presenceCentrePort financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CentrePort leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
CentrePort funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CentrePort M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CentrePort
What does CentrePort do?
CentrePort Wellington operates a full-service commercial port at Wellington Harbour, providing marine services (pilotage, tugs, pilot launches), container handling, break bulk and bulk fuel handling, cruise ship berthing and passenger services, and Cook Strait ferry infrastructure support. The port handles approximately 4 million tonnes of freight annually, 86,128 TEU of containers, 942,102 tonnes of bulk fuel, and 125,863 cruise passengers (FY25), connecting New Zealand's import/export trade with international shipping lines including COSCO/OOCL and MSC.
Is CentrePort a public or private company?
CentrePort is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was CentrePort founded?
CentrePort was founded in 1993. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is CentrePort based?
CentrePort is headquartered in Wellington, New Zealand, in the Oceania region.
How does CentrePort make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Port Service Fees are the primary driver. The others are container Handling, cruise Services, ferry Services, bulk Fuel Handling and log Exports.
Who are CentrePort's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Port of Auckland, Port Marlborough, Northport, Timaru Container Terminal, Lyttelton Port Company, Napier Port and Port of Tauranga. Regional players are Tasmanian Ports Corporation and Eastland Port. Port of Newcastle (Australia) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does CentrePort have an API?
No public API is recorded for CentrePort.
What industry is CentrePort in?
CentrePort's product category is Port Operations & Maritime Logistics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIALAF, Maritime & Port Authorities (Public Ports, Harbors, Ferries Terminals), with a secondary code of TLAHAAAA, Deep-Sea Container Terminals (Mainline / Transshipment Hubs). Its NAICS code is 488310 and its SIC code is 4400.