The recent official opening of the Ruakura Superhub is a landmark juncture for the Waikato-Tainui iwi, and heralds a stronger economic future for the wider Waikato region.
Te Puhi Ariki Ngawai Hono I Te Po Paki (standing in for her father Kiingi Tuheitia who was attending the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II) and Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson jointly headlined an opening ceremony held on site at Ruakura to mark the recent opening.
Speakers reflected on a 16-year journey to bring the first stage of the 490ha superhub, located on Hamilton City’s south-eastern boundary, to fruition.
Tukoroirangi Morgan, who chairs Te Arataura, the executive committee of Waikato Tainui, said the sustained effort to bring the superhub to life reflects the intergenerational thinking of the iwi, and its wish to hold and develop whenua.
“Ruakura opens the doorway for a bold and intergenerational investment as affirmed in our strategic plan, Whakatupuranga 2050. We are committed to building a legacy for those who come after us,” he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson said Ruakura Superhub is a superb example of the benefits to Aotearoa when iwi and the Crown work together.
“This is due to the dogged determination and courageous investment by Waikato-Tainui and Tainui Group Holdings to continue to pursue the idea through a long period of minimal investment in the regions, and long before most people had even heard of an ‘inland port’,” Robertson said.
Tainui Group Holdings (TGH), the commercial entity of Waikato-Tainui, has been developing the superhub since 2006, navigating a raft of planning, financing, construction and tenanting milestones.
Stage 1 of the Ruakura Superhub includes the first 9ha of what will eventually be a 30ha inland port, served directly by the East Coast Main Trunk rail line and a dedicated interchange on the recently opened Waikato Expressway.
The first stage includes a 35ha logistics hub, 25ha of industrial space, a 10ha wetland, and a network of local roads.
Future plans for the full 490ha estate include major industrial, commercial and retail sub-precincts, along with provision for up to 3230 residential sections.
