NZ Post Doubles Sorting Capacity with New State-of-the-Art Processing Centre in Auckland

The Auckland Processing Centre (APC) has the most capacity of any parcel sorting facility previously seen in New Zealand.

New Zealand (NZ) Post has today opened a state-of-the-art processing centre and international gateway in Auckland processing domestic parcels – a milestone in the Post’s $200 million-dollar, ten-year investment plan and transformation project known as the ‘Te Iho’ program.

The Auckland Processing Centre (APC) now has the most capacity of any parcel sorting facility in New Zealand’s history – with more than 30,000 parcels per hour at peak capacity.

“NZ Post is evolving to meet the needs of New Zealanders. This is a generational investment to ensure the ongoing success of NZ Post,” said NZ Post Chief Executive David Walsh.

“Our new 30,000sqm hub of international and national processing will bring together NZ Post, New Zealand Customs Service (Customs) and the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) on one site, continuing our long working relationship with both agencies.

“The APC is bigger than four rugby fields, and capable of processing more than 30,000 parcels per hour at peak capacity. We have also invested heavily in better technology, which means better accuracy and more visibility of where parcels are in our network, removing manual handling and sorting.”

Rated a NZGBC five-star Green Star Rating, the APC includes equipment built from recycled materials and chutes made from bamboo. Workers on site will use electric forklifts, and soft-plastic waste will be redistributed for recycling.

NZ Post General Manager Processing and Automation Marie Watson said the new site will run an automated processing operation for domestic parcels, packets, small packets, international inbound, and outbound parcels.

“With six sorters on multiple levels, the APC more than doubles our current processing capacity per hour from the previous Auckland Operations Centre – from 13,000 to 30,000 at peak capacity. It is an impressive multi-story site, and the integration with international product under one roof sets it apart from anything seen before. The APC is a key part of our aim to increase our parcel processing capacity to 190 million items per year by 2033.”

This site is the third to open under NZ Post’s $200m investment in parcel processing infrastructure. The Wellington Super Depot and the Southern Operations Centre opened in 2022.

Supply chain consultant TMX Transform provided full end-to-end technical and program support, including program management, network design, automation procurement and assurance during installation, build design, property procurement, and construction advice.

“The delivery of the Auckland Processing Centre (APC) marks the key milestone in the execution of NZ Post’s network strategy which commenced several years ago,” TMX Transform Supply Chain Director David Sim said.

“APC is the largest investment in the transformation of NZ Post’s backbone to underpin and support its customer base. Bringing together both its domestic and international processing centres, NZ Post is well positioned for growth in the coming years.”

International parcels will follow at the APC when the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and the New Zealand Customs Service (Customs) move into the site later in 2024.