The Bay of Plenty Polytechnic's new Road Transport, Warehousing and Logistics Training Centre is providing a new and unique workplace training opportunity.

The new 3000sqm centre is located in Maleme Street in the middle of Greerton's industrial area.

The polytechnic's head of school of applied technology, Malcolm Hardy, speaking at the opening of the centre.

It provides real-life hands-on experience where: road transport students pick-up and deliver goods to the warehouse, and then warehousing and distribution students unload and store goods and then reload the goods back on to trucks to get them re-delivered to clients as required.

The polytechnic's head of school of applied technology, Malcolm Hardy, says the new training centre is the first of its kind in the country.

'The centre has been part of a long term vision to provide a real-life training facility for our students.

'The polytechnic's vision is to continue to provide quality training by working closely with local industry.

'Similar training centres in Hamilton and Auckland would enable servicing the ‘golden triangle' formed by the three cities.”

He says the new training facility has had strong industry support including Transqual ITO, TR Group, Crown, Amcor Kiwi Packaging, NZ Road Transport Associated, Retail Institute, Hire Pool and New Zealand Transport Agency.

'Polytechnic truck driving programmes have been running out of Tauranga for over eight years and two years in Hamilton.

'In December, the warehousing and distribution programmes will have their first graduates.”

About 100 invited guests attended the official opening, along with Tauranga MP Simon Bridges.

Simon says he is impressed with the new facility.

'Logistics and road transport are key to our region's economic success.

'We are the country's premier export gateway and rely on an efficient and cost effective logistics distribution fulfilment network so it's fantastic that we now have this facility to meet the ever-increasing needs of the Bay.”