The potential for shipper logistics decisions to have a direct bearing on port business strategies has never been better demonstrated than with the announcement by Fonterra - New Zealand’’s giant dairy exporter - to implement a new rail-based logistics solution for North Island export distribution.

The solution - announced jointly with rail and truck operator Toll - has been hailed as probably the biggest single transportation industry announcement in New Zealand for years. However, what is fundamental to the deal is that it is it is a landside logistics package that is port-neutral.