1. Current Situation & Motivation
Napier Port, located on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island, currently uses reachstackers and forklift trucks (FLTs) to move containers between quay and yard.This system is diesel-intensive and, according to the port, inefficient as throughput has been growing (230,000 TEU in FY 2024, with a 13.9% increase in container volume in the first half of 2025). 

2. Transition to Tractor-and-Trailer Sets
To improve efficiency, Napier Port plans to shift to tractor-and-trailer sets. As part of its “Transformation Project,” the port is buying twelve terminal tractors from Westwell (China) that are battery-electric and autonomous-capable.  The investment (NZ$20–25 million) covers the tractors, charging infrastructure, related software, and a 5G communications network. 

3. Phased Deployment & Safety
Initially, the tractors will operate with a driver in the cabin. Over time, they will be converted to autonomous terminal tractors (ATTs), possibly supervised remotely.  Napier carried out a simulation study, including peer review of its safety concept, to validate the ATT system.  They are also experimenting with new internal drayage routes and reconfiguring traffic flow to a one-way system to minimize collision risk. 

4. Workforce Impact
The shift is not expected to dramatically reduce headcount. Napier will continue using reachstackers and FLTs for yard stacking. A small number of operational roles may be affected, but the port argues that new roles in equipment maintenance and support will be created. 

However, the Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) has expressed strong concerns: they call the transformation “risky” and unnecessary, highlighting past automation failures (e.g., automated straddle carriers). MUNZ warns about long-term job losses and broader automation risks across the workforce. 

5. Broader Context & Strategic Goals
Napier Port’s move is part of a deliberate transformation to make its operations more sustainable, efficient, and future-ready. The use of autonomous-capable, electric tractors aligns with decarbonization efforts and modernization.