New Zealand Earthquake Impacts Transportation Flow

New Zealand's South Island was hit by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake just after midnight Sunday. The earthquake left some ports and rail systems damaged, forcing logistics slowdowns until structural checks are completed and damages repaired. 

Our New Zealand office is reporting the following transport conditions:

• Wellington – The port and depot are closed while damage assessments are taking place. Large parts of the city are without power, and it is anticipated that the port will remain closed for several days.
• Lyttelton – Port and depot are fully operational.
• Timaru – Port and depot are fully operational.
• Nelson – Port and depot are fully operational.
• Large parts of the rail network from Palmerston North to Christchurch will be closed while KiwiRail undertake routine checks of tracks and bridges. For latest updates, please click here.
• State Highway 1 between Blenheim and Waipara is closed and is not expected to open for two days.

Many warehouses, trucking companies, and exporters throughout the South Island and in Wellington will not be able to resume work until structural checks are completed and power is restored. We are working hard with our New Zealand office to make sure delays are mitigated and cargo flow is as unhindered as possible during this restoration period.

We will keep you updated on this situation. As always, please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.