Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Inland port next project for Tainui

Updated at 6:56 am on 30 July 2010

Tainui Group Holdings says an inland port is the best use for land at Ruakura which was returned to Waikato-Tainui in its Treaty settlement.

Once development of The Base at Te Rapa is complete, chief executive Mike Pohio told Waatea News the company's attention will shift to the 300 hectares on the southeast fringe of Hamilton.

He says the Government's $800 million investment in the Waikato expressway, which will cross the Hamilton-Tauranga rail line at Ruakura, makes the land an ideal site for a distribution and logistics hub.

Ruakura is a former agricultural research farm site.

While existing developments like the $120 million Te Awa mall at Te Rapa and a hotel at Auckland international airport used bank debt, Mr Pohio says the tribe may issue its own bonds in future to better match its investment and income stream.

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