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Story: Northland region

Marsden Point Oil Refinery

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Marsden Point Oil Refinery

New Zealand’s only oil refinery was built at Marsden Point, near Whangārei, in the 1960s. By 2003, it was producing 70% of New Zealand’s petrol and 90% of its diesel. A deep-water berth was developed to handle Northland’s exports, including about half the refinery’s oil output, and logs and timber. Crude oil was also unloaded there until the refinery closed in 2022.

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How to cite this page

Claudia Orange, Northland region – Industries, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/7615/marsden-point-oil-refinery (accessed 11 June 2026).

Story by Claudia Orange, published 2 March 2009, updated 1 May 2015.