Market Update: Business.Scoop » Westshore Warehouse Opens, Anchoring Marlborough’s New Blue Economy Precinct – Full Analysis

Press Release – Port Marlborough

Port Marlborough Chief Executive Rhys Welbourn said the official opening today marks a milestone representing the ports significant investment in infrastructure to support Marlboroughs growing blue economy.

Port Marlborough has opened its new Westshore Warehouse, marking a major milestone in the development of a new Blue Economy precinct in Picton by Port Marlborough. The purpose-built 3,200sqm facility will serve as a key logistics hub for the region’s growing aquaculture and seafood industries. Once operational at the end of April, the facility’s primary function is to centralise fish feed storage for New Zealand King Salmon (NZKS) to support marine operations in the Marlborough Sounds, and for their new open ocean farm Blue Endeavour.

The Westshore Warehouse has been designed to improve efficiency while delivering clear environmental gains. For NZKS, relocating salmon feed storage to Waitohi Picton means their supply chain is streamlined, reducing feed road transport mileage by more than 90 percent, and lowering associated emissions. This means the feed is closer to farms and available when needed and aligns with their focus on environmental stewardship as they navigate their blue economy growth in the region.

For Port Marlborough, the development shows a practical approach to aligning infrastructure with the changing needs of customers. Part of the new warehouse will also be home to Waikawa Fishing Company, a proudly local and Māori-owned business pioneering New Zealand’s deep-sea crab industry. Their work is breaking new ground in sustainable harvesting, live export logistics, and market development, positioning as a global leader in high-quality, responsibly sourced deep-sea seafood.

Port Marlborough Chief Executive Rhys Welbourn said the official opening today marks a milestone representing the port’s significant investment in infrastructure to support Marlborough’s growing blue economy.

“This new facility marks the next step in developing a Blue Economy precinct at Westshore. It supports the growth of our aquaculture and seafood sectors, reduces pressure on the regional transport network, and enables more efficient use of the port’s marine infrastructure,” he said.

The warehouse development forms part of a wider strategy to align port infrastructure with customer needs and emerging industry opportunities. The development has also provided an opportunity to embed new approaches to sustainable construction, with more than 80 percent of demolition materials recycled locally and construction emissions measured as part of a pilot for future capital projects.

“We consider the Westshore warehouse project to be an ideal collaboration with Port Marlborough, at a time when NZKS is poised for growth. With the imminent arrival Ronja King, NZ’s first ever wellboat (57m fish transfer vessel) which will be regularly based at Port Marlborough, we look forward to having a continued positive impact on the local economy and community,” says NZKS Chief Executive Carl Carrington.

Local industry collaboration, and refined supply chain logistics will be key to managing sustainable growth, and it is important environmental stewardship remains in focus as we navigate our growth trajectory.
The Westshore warehouse is scheduled to be operational from late April, with activity expected to ramp up as operators transition into the new facility.

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