Wellington, Dec 23 NZPA - Conlinxx ltd, a company 70 percent owned by Ports of Auckland and 30 percent owned by NZL Group, will run Ports of Auckland's inland port site at Wiri in south Auckland from February 1 next year.

Reinhold Goeschl will to lead the Conlinxx management team during the initial stage, Ports of Auckland said in a statement.

With a new rail exchange connecting the inland port with the seaport from early 2010, Ports of Auckland managing director Jens Madsen said it was time to move the operation up a gear.

"Conlinxx's over-riding objective is to ensure that cargo handled through the inland port is carried in the most efficient way possible, whether by rail or truck," said NZL Group's chief executive Ken Harris.

Rival Port of Tauranga has an inland port in Auckland.