Strong Year For Nelson-Tasman Gateways - $7.3m Dividend Paid To Councils

Infrastructure Holdings Limited (IHL), the parent company of Port Nelson Limited and Nelson Airport Limited, has declared a final group dividend, to be paid to Nelson City Council and Tasman District Council of $5.8 million. This brings the total dividends for the year to $7.3 million. The Group also reported a Net Profit after Tax (NPAT) of $10.3 million, a 12% increase on last year’s underlying result.

IHL Chair, Sue Sheldon, says the result highlights the strength of the region’s two key gateways. “This year’s performance demonstrates the resilience of Port Nelson and Nelson Airport in a challenging trading environment. It is a strong result achieved in parallel to the Group increasing its emphasis on improving customer service, enhancing community relationships and maintaining a high level of staff engagement.”

“We’re proud to make this significant contribution towards our Nelson and Tasman communities through the Group dividend.”

Port Nelson contributed $5.9 million of the total dividend and delivered an NPAT of $7.1 million. Cargo volumes remained steady at 3.2 million tonnes, with the best performers including wine and sand partially offset by softer vehicle, cement and fruit volumes.

Nelson Airport contributed $1.4 million of the total dividend and achieved an NPAT of $3.2 million, with an operating profit of $11.2 million. This strong result came despite a 6.3% drop in passenger numbers (858,128 passengers).

Port Nelson invested in key sustainability and infrastructure projects, including electrifying two cranes, progressing the slipway redevelopment, opening Honomai, Marlborough’s first inland port, and commissioning a new pilot launch, Mānuka.

Port Nelson Chief Executive, Matt McDonald, says the Port is positioning for the future. "Cargo volumes have held steady for the past five years, even with ongoing economic challenges here and overseas. We’re working hard to make our operations more efficient and prepare for expected future cargo growth. The investments we’ve made this year will help us support our customers and our region well into the future.”

Nelson Airport progressed significant projects supporting regional connectivity, including its $10 million apron reconstruction and the Project 2-Zero runway extension planning framework. Nelson Airport maintained its “excellent” customer satisfaction rating for the third consecutive year.

Nelson Airport Chief Executive, Brendan Cook, says the focus is on strengthening infrastructure and customer experience. "Despite a softer year for passenger numbers, we’ve focused on future-proofing our infrastructure to ensure we can support even better regional connectivity and continue to deliver outstanding customer experience."

Across the Group, carbon emissions continued to decrease, supported by the release of the first annual Climate Reports. The Group further strengthened its relationships with stakeholders, including Ngā iwi o Te Tauihu and the local community, through sponsorship of regional initiatives, such as Te Huinga Whetū Ngā Kapa Haka Kura Tuarua o Aotearoa, the Nelson Tasman Hospice, Riding for the Disabled, and local environmental projects, including seagrass regeneration.

Note:

ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE HOLDINGS LIMITED 

Infrastructure Holdings Limited (IHL) is a Council Controlled Trading Organisation under  the Local Government Act 2002. The company is jointly and equally owned by Nelson  City Council (NCC) and Tasman District Council (TDC). 

IHL was established by NCC and TDC to actively manage their strategic investments in  Port Nelson Limited and Nelson Airport Limited. IHL works closely with Port Nelson and  Nelson Airport to secure and provide funding, raise shareholder returns, maximise  synergies and deliver on a suite of climate, community and people outcomes. 

As an investor in two of the region’s strategic assets, Infrastructure Holdings Limited’s  core purpose is to provide a funding vehicle to reduce finance costs and increase  shareholder returns from Port Nelson Limited and Nelson Airport Limited. 

Website > https://www.infrastructureholdings.co.nz/ 

ABOUT PORT NELSON LIMITED 

Port Nelson is the maritime gateway for Te Tauihu, handling a diverse range of cargo,  including containers, logs, seafood, apples, wine, fuel, and vehicles. Around 67% of  cargo is exported, and 33% is imported, making it a critical link in the region’s supply  chain. 

Port Nelson’s operations cover stevedoring, container and marine services, slipway  operations, and commercial property management. Through its QuayConnect and  QuayPack businesses, the Port offers integrated warehousing and logistics solutions,  with facilities located in both Nelson and Marlborough. 

As Australasia’s largest seafood processing port, Port Nelson supports one of New  Zealand’s most significant marine service clusters.  

Port Nelson is committed to facilitating regional prosperity and delivering long-term  value for customers, stakeholders, and the wider community. 

Website > https://www.portnelson.co.nz/

ABOUT NELSON AIRPORT LIMITED 

Nelson Airport (NAL) is a key strategic asset and a major contributor to the prosperity  and sustainability of the Nelson Tasman region. Its core purpose is to safely and  efficiently move people in and out of the region. 

Nelson Airport connects Te Tauihu with the rest of New Zealand and the world, and is  the busiest regional airport in the country. Through Air New Zealand, it has direct links to  Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, while Originair, Sounds Air, and Golden Bay Air  provide regional connections across the country, including to Palmerston North, the  Kāpiti Coast, and Golden Bay. 

The Airport supports a diverse range of businesses, including general aviation operators,  aviation colleges, the New Zealand Flying Doctors, Nelson-Marlborough Rescue  Helicopter and helicopter services. As a critical piece of infrastructure, Nelson Airport  underpins the region’s economic growth, talent attraction and retention, emergency  response capability, and investment appeal. 

Website > https://www.nelsonairport.co.nz/

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