Port of Tauranga (NZE:POT) has requested the Minister for Infrastructure to refer its Stella Passage development resource consent application to the fast-track consenting process, according to a Friday filing with the Australian bourse.

On Aug. 27, a Court determined to put on hold an expert panel's work to examine the application, originally set to start on Sept. 1, pending additional direction.

The company is yet to reach an agreement with parties opposing the development of the passage on the appropriate level of mitigation for the cultural impacts of the development, the filing said.

Shares of the company fell nearly 2% in recent Friday trade.