2009
Waikato Regional Council, Hamilton City Council (HCC), Waipa and Waikato District Councils and Tangata Whenua embarked on the development of a sub-regional growth strategy, known as FutureProof. Ruakura was included in the strategic document as a key employment area.
2010
Waikato Regional Policy Statement. The Proposed Waikato Regional Policy statement (PWRPS) was notified in November 2010. Ruakura was included as a strategic industrial node located in Central FutureProof area showing industrial land allocation and timing. Economists Castalia produced a report for the RPS quantifying the magnitude of opportunity and benefits that Ruakura will bring to the region.
2011
The Ruakura R1 area transferred from Waikato District into Hamilton City on 1 July 2011. The R1 area is 822 ha and increased the size of Hamilton’s designated urban land area by 8%.
2012
Hamilton City Proposed District Plan (PDP). The HCC PDP was notified in December 2012. The Ruakura structure plan was included following a collaborative development process between Tainui Group Holdings, Chedworth Properties and HCC.
2014
Ruakura Board of Inquiry – On 24 June 2013, the Tainui Group Holdings Limited and Chedworth Properties Limited submitted an application requesting a change to the operative Hamilton City District Plan in relation to the proposed Ruakura Development. The Minister declared the Ruakura Development Plan Change request as a project of National Significance and referred the request to an independent board of inquiry. Following a full public process, including notification in national newspapers, submissions and hearings, a decision to accept the Ruakura Development Plan Change request was released on 9 September 2014 approving 389ha of land for development.
2015
The alteration to designation was confirmed, locking in the full diamond interchange at Ruakura to provide a direct connection to the Waikato Expressway (SH1).
Hamilton City Council notified the Ruakura Variation to its Proposed District Plan (PDP) in November 2015 for public consultation and submissions. The Variation would rezone all the 822ha of land in Ruakura.
2016
Resource consents were granted by Hamilton City Council (March) and Waikato Regional Council (May) comprising a total area of 85 hectares. This incorporates the Logistics precinct including the first stage of rail for the inland port totalling 48 hectares. The balance will create public open space, screening, lizard and fish habitat, stormwater reserves and roading.
NZTA started construction of the Hamilton section of the Waikato Expressway.
The independent commissioners’ decisions on the Ruakura Variation were notified in November 2016.
2017
TGH secures resource consents to develop and subdivide the first 48 hectares of industrial land adjacent to the Inland Port. (September)
2019
TGH and PoT announce a rail services agreement to service Ruakura Port with the trains operated between MetroPort Auckland and Tauranga (August)
2020
NZ Government announces $40m of ‘shovel ready funding’ to construct enabling infrastructure including transportation, water and environmental management.
NZ Government announces $16.8m funding for construction of Ruakura link roads, matched with a further $16.8m funding from TGH, and $5m from HCC (June).
TGH and Port of Tauranga Ltd (PoT) announce a 50/50 JV to develop Ruakura Inland Port, taking an initial 50-year ground lease to establish the inland port (February).
Announcement (November) of PBT Express Freight as the inaugural tenant of the Logistics Zone with a new 5,000 sqm regional hub to be open by mid-2022.
2021
Commencement (January) of construction of the first roading package (Spine Road), co-funded by TGH, the Government’s regional economic development unit, Kānoa – REDIU and Hamilton City Council.
Commencement of major landforming works by C&R Developments, including the formation of the 10-hectare wetland, formation of the Logistics West and Silverdale industrial areas.
Announcement (June) that Waitomo Group will develop a 1.6 hectare flagship service centre at Ruakura incorporating a fuel stop, alternative energy options and quick service restaurants.
Commencement (July) of construction of the new PBT facility by Calder Stewart and of the second roading package (including port access road by Cambridge Construction Limited.