Mainfreight Annual Report 2022

16
PERFORMANCE Group Managing Director’s Report
17
New Zealand
Our New Zealand business units have performed
extremely well and we continue to find opportunities for
more growth.
Domestically, we have extended our Transport network
with additional branches in cities and regions completed
and more planned. The density of our network is
providing Transport efficiencies and improved long-term
delivery performance. Volume increases and a shortage
of road and rail equipment impacted service levels
through the later part of 2021, however we are confident
our performance is now back to acceptable levels.
Our new West Auckland facility will open mid-2022
providing much-needed capacity for the developing
northwest region of New Zealand’s largest city. A
further eight city and regional Transport sites are under
construction or contract, as our domestic network
intensification continues to attract customers.
Warehousing growth continues. Commitment from new
customers and increased capacity requirements from
established customers have resulted in a number of new
site developments; the largest, 46,000 square metres, in
Auckland. By 2024, we expect to have more than 240,000
square metres of high-quality warehouse space across
New Zealand (compared with approximately 179,000
square metres at 31 March 2022).
Our Air & Ocean growth has also continued, with
increased air and sea freight volumes. A number of
new initiatives in chartering aircraft, and large bulk
commitments for seafreight, saw customers increase
their patronage as these strategies bypassed congested
shipping and air capacity, particularly ex-Asia.
Expansion in regional New Zealand has provided growth
opportunities, bringing our global network advantages to
regional exporters and importers alike.
During the year, Carl George assumed the New Zealand
leadership role. Carl has been with Mainfreight for 27
years in a variety of sales, operational and leadership
roles. This preference to promote internally is a key part of
who we are. A number of other New Zealand leadership
changes occurred as a consequence of Carl’s promotion.
Australia
Our development across the Australian logistics market
continues to be strong.
The market share gains and volume growth experienced
have required ongoing investment in land and buildings.
While many of the immediate projects are due for
completion across the next two years, we are also
exploring bare land purchase, particularly in Queensland
and New South Wales to help facilitate infrastructure
growth for the next ten years.
Multiple warehouses in each state and up to three
Transport facilities in each of the largest eastern seaboard
cities will be required, such is the demand for our
services. Increasing our presence in regional towns across
states and territories will complement the freight task
arising from our large city locations. We opened four
new branches in Australia in the past year including
Wollongong, and have another six planned for 2023,
spread from Mackay in northern Queensland, down to
Tasmania.
In line with our supply chain strategies, new customers
taking advantage of our high spec Warehouse facilities
will also utilise our Transport and Air & Ocean services.
There is approximately 117,000 square metres of
warehousing development underway, which will be
ready for occupation over the next two years. The largest
of these is a leased site at Moorebank in Sydney (55,865
square metres) that will be serviced by remote electric
straddle carriers connected to road and rail services. This
warehouse will also include chilled storage options.
SIMI MARINER, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND