About Us

Port Taranaki is centrally located on the west coast of the North Island and is the only deep water seaport on New Zealand's western seaboard.

The port was established in 1875. In 1881 work on a breakwater began to provide safe anchorage from the Tasman Sea. Port Taranaki is now well sheltered by two breakwaters which extend from either end of a naturally curved bay.

Port Taranaki Key Facts

Nine fully serviced berths
Only deep water port on NZ's western seaboard
Capable of handling a diversity of cargoes
Special expertise in 'heavy lift' operations
Full range of services available

Port Taranaki offers nine fully serviced berths for a wide variety of cargoes and vessels. The maximum port draft is 12.5m, and for vessels in excess of 10m Dynamic Under Keel Clearance (DUKC) must be used.

Since 1881 the port has grown apace with its province and hinterlands and today handles large volumes of cargoes, principally those of the farming, engineering and petrochemical industries. Additionally the port is a servicing base for sea transport and related industries and has, since the beginnings of major offshore and onshore oil exploration in the 1960s, been a provider of related maritime, support and heavy lift services.

Port Taranaki has the ability to handle a wide diversity of cargoes

All forms of bulk products (liquid and dry)
Containerised products
Break-bulk products (general, refrigerated or palletised),
Specialist experience in the handling of heavy lift and project cargoes.
All wharves are supported by covered and open storage areas.

Port Taranaki is a modern port which handles a diversity of cargoes and offers a full range of providoring, stevedoring, ship agency and government border protection services.

An unusual feature of the port is that it has a beach within its breakwaters adjacent to its operational area. The popularity of Ngamotu Beach is testament to Port Taranaki's commitment to safe working practices and regard for the environment.

The Green Award

Safe and clean shipping is in the interest of all involved with shipping. The Green Award Foundation bestows international recognition on seagoing vessels (oil tankers and bulk carriers) that meet very high maritime safety and environmental standards.

These Green Award vessels are in turn provided financial incentives on port charges by Green Award ports. As a result, higher levels of safety and pollution prevention are maintained, ensuring a win-win for all parties.

Port Taranaki is a "Green Award" port. By providing an incentive to owners and managers of Green Award vessels, the port attracts vessels operating with high standards. In turn the community benefits as the port and the vessels make a positive difference to the local maritime environment.