Port Marlborough

Name: Port Marlborough
Address: 14 Auckland Street, Picton, 7220, NZ
Telephone: +6435203399

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The Port of Picton is one of the busiest ports in New Zealand with over 3,000 large vessel movements annually. The main cargo handled is export logs.

Port Marlborough New Zealand Limited is based at Picton and operates diverse port and marina facilities in the Marlborough Sounds. Picton is the South Island terminal port for New Zealand's inter-island passenger and freight ferries. The Port is naturally deep and Waimahara Wharf at Shakespeare Bay can accommodate cargo vessels up to 13.5m draft and cruise ships up to 320m long. The port of Picton is located in the Queen Charlotte Sound and is accessible via two gateways: The Northern Entrance (approx. 19 nautical miles to Picton) and Tory Channel (approx. 18 nautical miles to Picton). Both of these entrances are located in the Cook Strait. Picton Coordinates: 41°17’4S 174°00’5E

The Port of Picton is one of the busiest ports in New Zealand with over 7,500 large vessel movements annually. The majority of movements are by the roll on-roll-off ferries which provide the Cook Strait link to Wellington. Inter-island ferry operators Interislander and Bluebridge carry more than one million passengers per year. All road and rail freight between the North and South Islands travels through Picton via the inter-island ferries. A deep-water berth at Waimahara Wharf in Shakespeare Bay services bulk cargo. Waimahara Wharf is also used by cruise ships greater than 245m long. A significant component of Port Marlborough’s business is the provision of facilities for tourism and leisure industry operators. Picton hosts a number of cruise ship visits each summer and both Picton and Havelock provide bases for a growing number of tourism and adventure-tourism operators. The company is the second largest marina operator in New Zealand with marinas in Waikawa, Picton and Havelock that together comprise in excess of 1,000 berths and accommodate more than 400 additional vessels in boat sheds and storage compounds. Smaller facilities in Picton, Havelock, Elaine Bay and Oyster Bay service fishing fleets, marine farmers and barge operators as well as providing transport routes for the communities of the Marlborough Sounds. Port Marlborough New Zealand Limited has three subsidiaries: Waikawa Marina Trustee Limited and PMNZ Marina Holdings Limited which were established to facilitate the sale of long-term berth entitlements in the Waikawa Marina extension, and Port Marlborough NZ Ltd. Marine Services which provides pilotage and towage services.

12/10/2026

Marlborough's cruise season kicks off this month on 24 October with the arrival of Celebrity Solstice. We're gearing up for a total of 32 cruise ship visits to our region between October and April, with around 73,000 passengers and 30,000 crew expected.

Cruise visits bring customers into our local cafés, shops, restaurants and tourism businesses, supporting jobs and spending across Waitohi Picton and the Marlborough region. Behind every visit is a huge team effort, from local businesses and volunteers welcoming visitors to our region, and the Port Marlborough port and marine teams keeping operations running safely and smoothly.

Read more about the upcoming Marlborough cruise season 👇🏼

Picton Business Group | Marlborough Chamber of Commerce | Marlborough District Council

Port Marlborough welcomes 32 cruise ship visits to Picton for the 2026/27 season, bringing an estimated 73,000 passengers and economic benefits to Marlborough.

08/10/2026

We're proud to be naming sponsor of the Port Marlborough Marlborough Environment Awards, and to support the incredible people, businesses and community groups making a positive difference in our region.

The 2026/27 Awards are officially underway, and we'd love to see more of Marlborough's environmental success stories recognised!

🌱 Know someone doing great things for our environment? Encourage them to enter.

Entries close 31 October 2026.

Find out more 👉 https://www.mea-nz.com/

27/09/2026

Take a look from above at progress on the Waitohi Ferry Redevelopment Project, as HEB Construction continues work on the infrastructure for new Interislander ferries arriving in 2029.

From piling for the Transition Berth to changes around Waitohi Picton Harbour, this drone footage shows just how much the port has changed as construction moves ahead. A great view of progress on this generational infrastructure project underway in Marlborough, and securing our place in the SH1 Connection for decades to come.
For more info on the project see our project website here: https://portmarlborough.co.nz/waitohi-ferry-redevelopment-project/

Marlborough District Council | 📸 Skyworks | KiwiRail

25/09/2026

We have released our 2026 Annual Report, sharing the progress made across Port Marlborough over the year.
This year saw long-term plans become visible activity across the region. Physical works began on the Waitohi Ferry Redevelopment Project, the Westshore Warehouse opened, and our new harbour tug Kaiaua entered service, completing New Zealand’s newest marine towage fleet.

Despite reduced forestry and cruise activity, revenue increased by 1.5% with a $3.5m dividend confirmed for MDC, with $21.8 million re-invested in Marlborough into the infrastructure and assets that keep our region moving and connected!

Other highlights included:

🌿 21.35 hectares of habitat restored, exceeding our five-hectare target
⚓ 93 per cent occupancy across our Picton, Waikawa and Havelock marinas
🤝 More than $178,000 contributed through community partnerships, in-kind assistance and employee time
🦺 No high-consequence injuries recorded
🌏 Our annual operational emissions reduction target exceeded

Chief Executive Rhys Welbourn says the focus remains firmly on delivery.

“The work under way today will shape how Marlborough connects, trades and grows for decades. Our focus is on delivering it well and creating infrastructure the region can rely on for generations.”

Read our 2026 Annual Report:https://portmarlborough.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/PMNZ-2026-Annual-Report.pdf

22/09/2026

We’re proud to be working alongside HEB Construction and KiwiRail to support a new native planting project for Picton School . Te Kura o Waitohi!

Port Marlborough's horticulturalist John McGreevy has worked with the school to plan the planting and select suitable native species, and we teamed up with our partners to fund the plants and materials. And there’s been plenty of people power too, with the University of Canterbury's Student Volunteer Army over the weekend getting stuck in to help bring the planting to life. 🌲🌳🌲🌳🪏

The native trees and hedging will create a greener boundary around the school and provide additional screening between the school grounds and surrounding roads. A great example of local organisations working with our community to leave something positive behind.

Read more about the project 👇

MEDIA RELEASE Partners support native planting at Picton School Port Marlborough, HEB Construction and KiwiRail are supporting a new native planting initiative at Picton School, reflecting their shared commitment to...

15/09/2026

🌿 Entries are open for the 2026/27 Port Marlborough - Marlborough Environment Awards!

We’re proud to support these Awards, which recognise the people, businesses and community groups doing great things for Marlborough’s environment.

From our marine and aquaculture industries to farming, forestry, viticulture, local businesses and community-led projects, there’s some fantastic work happening across our region.

If you’re doing something worth celebrating, or know someone who is, we’d encourage you to enter.🏆 Entries close 31 October 2026.

Find out more and enter via the Marlborough Environment Awards website.

The Port Marlborough - Marlborough Environment Awards are held every two years to showcase businesses or community projects that are good for the environment. Marlborough Environment Awards Trust.

14/09/2026

What's happening in Waitohi Picton harbour? 🚢👀
More than half of the piles for the future Transition Berth are now installed, with piling, shoreline protection and wharf removal works continuing this week.

The Transition Berth will help keep existing Interislander ferry services operating while the new permanent facilities are built.

HEB Construction | The Marlborough Cruise Guide | Marlborough District Council

Read the latest construction update 👇

Waitohi Ferry Redevelopment Project Update Week beginning 14 September What’s happening this week? Marine works Construction of the future Transition Berth continues, with over half of the total piles required...

21/08/2026

We are recruiting three fixed-term roles for our peak shipping season in our port team for Lines Crew/General Hand/Log Recovery! If you are:

🟦 Local – ideally based in Picton, or within 30 minutes' drive of the Port

🟦 Work-ready - eligible to work in NZ with a clean full NZ drivers' licence

🟦 Physically fit – able to pass a role-specific fitness check

🟦 Flexible and reliable – available for rostered shifts, including nights and weekends

🟦 A team player with a great attitude

Then we would love to hear from you - more details below!

Join a great team for a rewarding fixed-term role this summer season!

03/08/2026

Works are underway, Marlborough!
Check out the first of what will be regular updates for our community on the Waitohi Ferry Redevelopment Project in Waitohi Picton.
Working with our main contractor HEB Construction, we'll be issuing these regularly as works get underway to welcome the new ferries in 2029!
Enjoy! 🏗️👷🏼‍♂️🚧🛳️🚢

Marlborough District Council | KiwiRail | Picton Business Group | Marlborough Chamber of Commerce | Te Ātiawa o Te Waka-A-Māui Trust

Waitohi Ferry Redevelopment Project Update Week beginning 3 August What’s happening this week? Marine works Marine piling is now underway, northeast of the “No1 Long Arm” wharf, to construct the...

17/07/2026

A major milestone has been reached for the Waitohi Ferry Redevelopment Project, with the Government confirming final approval of the Cook Strait Ferry Replacement Programme today in parliament.

With this certainty now in place, work on the Waitohi Ferry Redevelopment Project will continue as construction gathers pace in Waitohi Picton.
Over the coming months, you'll start to see more activity around the port, including marine works, construction equipment and the establishment of temporary project facilities. HEB Construction, Port Marlborough’s Main Contractor, is now increasing activity on site as the main work now gets underway. We'll continue working to minimise disruption and keep the community informed every step of the way.

This is one of the largest infrastructure projects ever undertaken in Marlborough and will deliver the marine and landside infrastructure needed to support New Zealand's new rail-enabled ferries, while keeping the port operating throughout construction.

We're committed to delivering the project safely, caring for the unique environment of Waitohi Picton, and maintaining open communication with our community, port users, iwi and stakeholders throughout.

Port Marlborough's full media release is here: https://portmarlborough.co.nz/media-release-port-marlborough-welcomes-final-government-approval-for-cook-strait-ferry-replacement-programme/

To keep up to date with project information and construction notices, visit our project page on our website:

https://portmarlborough.co.nz/waitohi-ferry-redevelopment-project/

Marlborough District Council | HEB Construction | KiwiRail

Address

14 Auckland Street
Picton
7220

Telephone

+6435203399

Website

http://www.portmarlborough.co.nz/

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