DHL opens massive health logistics warehouse in Auckland

Global logistics giant DHL has opened a $90 million health logistics warehouse in Auckland, as the company looks to tap rising demand in the country's healthcare sector.

The new warehouse is highly automated, with sophisticated robot pickers that could send small consignments of medicine directly to patients and pharmacies.

The Māngere facility spanned an area of more than 14,000 square metres, increasing DHL's total health logistics square metre capacity in New Zealand by 20 percent.

DHL said it would have approximately 80 staff at the site, including the country's biggest health logistics quality assurance team.

"Advanced health logistics are critical for improving healthcare outcomes for New Zealand's growing population and addressing the sophisticated care needs of our ageing community," DHL Supply Chain NZ managing director Matt Casbolt said.

DHL Supply Chain Asia Pacific chief executive Javier Bilbao said the site future-proofed DHL's ability to distribute pharmaceutical and healthcare products across the country.

Inside the warehouse, there were 12,000 temperature-controlled pallet storage spaces, with additional specialised storage to protect pharmaceuticals that required humidity control.

The building was also rated five green stars, and used 100 percent renewable electricity.