Christopher Luxon opens Christchurch's new $40m air freight facility

Author: Jazlyn Whales,
Publish Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2026, 2:00pm

A new $40 million freight apron has been unveiled at Christchurch Airport, with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on hand to cut the ribbon.

The project expands the airport’s freight-handling capacity and is designed to support growing demand from freight operators, exporters and airlines.

Covering an area larger than six rugby pitches, the 8500sq m facility features upgraded technology, including an automatic parcel conveyor system capable of processing up to 6500 inbound parcels and 5600 outbound parcels per hour.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon joined Christchurch Airport Chief Executive Justin Watson, Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger, freight operators, exporters and industry leaders to mark the project’s completion.

The facility also includes more than 11km of underground services and has been constructed using lower-emission asphalt and recycled construction materials.

It also has high-speed X-ray screening capabilities.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon attends the opening of Christchurch Airport's new $40 million DHL freight apron. Photo / Anna Heath.

Located at the Dakota Park freight and logistics precinct, it replaces an older service point and gateway facility at Christchurch Airport.

Luxon described the facility as “truly world-class”.

“This is an outstanding and critical piece of infrastructure for New Zealand,” he said.

“We need this airport to unlock the growth that sits in the South Island.

“This region is doing exceptionally well. It’s got massive amounts of momentum

“Having a gateway like this that actually connects the South Island out to the world is just so critically important to New Zealand.

“If we could turn the rest of New Zealand into Canterbury, it’d be fantastic.”

Christopher Luxon called the new facility 'truly world class'. Photo / Anna Heath.

Christchurch Airport Chief Executive Justin Watson said the project was about much more than infrastructure.

“This isn’t just a new piece of concrete. It’s an investment in the future of Christchurch and the South Island,” he said.

“The way businesses move products around the world is changing rapidly. Exporters need fast, reliable connections to global markets.

“This apron gives us the capacity and flexibility to support that growth for decades to come.”

Located at the Dakota Park freight and logistics precinct, the facility replaces an older service point and gateway facility at Christchurch Airport. Photo / Anna Heath.

The facility was first announced in December 2024.

Christchurch and the wider South Island was one of the fastest-growing regions for DHL over the last five years, the company’s New Zealand and Pacific Islands managing director Mark Foy said at the time.

“DHL has supported that strong growth with a daily Boeing 767 operation connecting New Zealand’s South Island to the world,” he added.

“The new DHL gateway will have direct access to the tarmac which enables us to significantly improve shipment processing speed and help more Kiwi exporters and importers get their products to international markets.”

DHL also said the facility would achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions over its entire lifecycle.

The facility would have a solar photovoltaic system, electric vehicle charging stations, advanced energy metering, and integration with Christchurch Airport’s campus-wide rainwater harvesting system.