In a move by Maersk Line to change the schedule of its New Zealand North Island calling patterns, the world's largest shipping line has announced that it will in future be making more stops in Auckland.
The changes to Maersk's North Island services are expected to be phased in from mid-January. Ports of Auckland managing director Geoff Vazey said: "This decision by Maersk underscores the importance for New Zealand of port rationalisation. A merger between the Port of Tauranga and Ports of Auckland would ensure further port and supply chain efficiencies by curtailing the practice of over-investment in under-utilised port plant and infrastructure." Maersk services that call at the Ports of Auckland and will consequently be affected by these schedule changes include: (i) the New South East Asia Service that will from next year make weekly stops at Auckland, as well as Napier and Port Chalmers; and (ii) the Oceania US East Coast Service that connects with Europe. This service will call at Auckland on a weekly basis, east and west bound, as well as the ports of New Plymouth, Timaru and Port Chalmers.
Finally, Maersk's Pacific Island and Feeder Service for exporters and importers will load and unload cargo at the Port of Auckland on a weekly basis, as well as make port of calls at Lyttelton, Nelson, Wellington and Tauranga. The service will also include a fortnightly stop at ports in the Pacific Islands, a company statement said.