Port of Tauranga's position as the country's largest primary products port will be strengthened by becoming the most significant transport and logistics centre in New Zealand.

The Bay of Plenty Polytechnic has just received NZD200,000 to assist with research into the feasibility of establishing a National Centre of Expertise for the Road Transport and Logistics industries based in the Bay of Plenty.

The feasibility study will be undertaken jointly with the Transportation Industry Training Organisation and Tranzqual.

Funding for the study was received from the Encouraging and Supporting Innovation Fund administered by the Tertiary Education Commission which acknowledges that "there is a recognised need for the establishment of a Centre of Expertise as the industry appears to lack the availability of central training".

Around 80% of all New Zealand's freight moves through the 'golden transport triangle' of Hamilton, Auckland and Tauranga. In addition, the Port of Tauranga's position as the country's largest primary products port will be strengthened by becoming the most significant transport and logistics centre in New Zealand.

A Centre of Expertise will support the port operations and all associated road transport by providing a centralised base for best practice, training and research that will feed directly into the industry.

According to Kevin Brockett, Group Leader in Road Transport at the Polytechnic "Training delivery for the logistics sector at the applied level is currently under-represented in industry training statistics."

The industry has traditionally employed low skilled workers; however, modern technology is changing the industry and has highlighted the importance of good training and research.

The feasibility study is due to be completed by December 2009 when outcomes will be presented to industry and the Tertiary Education Commission.