Port of Tauranga plans to establish a new intermodal freight hub at Rolleston.

Port of Tauranga plans to establish an intermodal freight hub at Rolleston to receive, pack and distribute containerised cargo.

The port, which last year acquired a 50% shareholding in PrimePort Timaru and operates its container terminal, says the hub will give South Island exporters the option to efficiently access Timaru and importers in the Christchurch area will have the option to ship through Timaru.

The planned development will be in the Izone Industrial Park, 12km south of Christchurch, where the port has signed an agreement to buy 15 hectares of land.