Cruise ships returning to Lyttelton Harbour in 2020

Wednesday, 1 May 2019

The Lyttelton Port Company's new cruise berth has been designed so mega-sized ships can be safely moored in windy conditions. (Video first published in June 2018)

More than 70 bookings are locked in for Lyttelton Port's new cruise berth, which will be up and running in November 2020.

The new facility is expected to impact nearby Akaroa, though how far bookings will drop off for the visitor-dependant Canterbury town is still unclear.

When completed, Lyttelton Port Company's (LPC) $56 million cruise berth will allow large cruise ships to dock in Christchurch for the first time since the 2011 earthquakes.

An artist's impression of the cruise berth at Lyttelton Port, due to be completed in November 2020.

Piling work for the under-construction berth is on schedule for a November 2020 opening date – in time for the 2020-21 cruise season.

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Lyttelton Port Company has said there are more than 70 bookings for its new cruise berth.

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Outgoing Lyttelton Port Company chief executive Peter Davie says the new cruise ship berth will mean the port can say yes to all cruise ships.

Outgoing LPC chief executive Peter Davie said it would mean a large vessel could moor at the new cruise berth while smaller ships could still use the inner harbour, meaning the port could welcome all cruise ships.

Cruise Lines International Association Australasia managing director Joel Katz said the facilities would provide cruise operators with greater flexibility and options for the growing number of cruise visitors to New Zealand.

The new facilities will mean large cruise ships can dock at the new berth while smaller cruise ships use the inner harbour.

The Lyttelton bookings are expected to have a knock-on effect on Akaroa, but it is not yet clear to what extent.

New Zealand Cruise Association chief executive Kevin O'Sullivan said there were about 60 ships had been booked in for 2020-21, but that could change as many bookings were not yet finalised.

There would be a reduction in bookings compared to previous years, but it would probably not be as much as some people had reported, he said.

The cruise operators he had spoken to said Akaroa was still 'a destination of choice' and they'd had good experiences visiting the town.

Darin Rainbird, who owns seven business in Akaroa, said about 90 ships visited the Banks Peninsula town last season and about 100 were expected in the coming season.

The reduction in ships would have 'a massive economic impact'. He was personally rationalising by combining some stores and reconsidering how staff would be managed.

Rainbird said it was easier to manage staff numbers if there was a higher number of ships as it meant consistent visitor numbers.

Akaroa was already a competitive market as more eateries and boutiques had opened recently, he said.