Port Taranaki

04/06/2026

🛳 A shipment of liquid petroleum gas (LPG) is now arriving weekly at Port Taranaki, as Liquigas flips its on-site depot from export to import to meet domestic demand.

The Liquigas depot at Port Taranaki was historically a LPG storage and export facility.

"As LPG supply reduced, the Port Taranaki facility was used less,” explains Liquigas chief executive Christo Janse van Rensburg.

"This trend has continued over time to the point that now it makes sense to import product to New Plymouth to meet North Island demand."

The first of the planned weekly shipments arrived at Port Taranaki in May. Gaschem Odyssey unloaded LPG at Port Taranaki, having made previous stops at Christchurch and Dunedin.

👉 You can read the full story here:
https://www.porttaranaki.co.nz/news/change-of-role-for-liquigas-depot

👉 For more from our latest Portal newsletter, click here:
https://www.porttaranaki.co.nz/news/portal-may-2026

30/05/2026

🚣 Brent Sharp is just a summer away from achieving something only a handful of people have completed or even attempted.

The Port Taranaki site works co-ordinator is closing in on a solo kayak circumnavigation of New Zealand – an odyssey that began nearly a decade ago when he set out from New Plymouth on the first leg of a journey that will take in more than 5,600km.

Each summer, Brent uses his annual leave and long weekends to bite off chunks of his mission. Once complete, he will join a small group to have kayaked around New Zealand, and, at 68, will be the oldest.

“I’ve wanted to challenge myself, and even at my age I want to get as far as I can and strive to get better,” he says.

“With solo kayaking you have to really enjoy it because it’s hard. But I love it. Being out in the middle of nowhere and enjoying the peace and beauty – it’s right up my ally."

👉 You can read more about Brent's adventure, the scary moments, his trusty kayak, his loyal support crew, and the final push to complete his mission, here: https://www.porttaranaki.co.nz/news/brent-paddling-towards-rare-achievement

👉 To read more from our May Portal newsletter, click here:
https://www.porttaranaki.co.nz/news/portal-may-2026

27/05/2026

🏗️ The skill of Port Taranaki's crane operators was on full display during a delicate mid-air dance recently.

⚡️ A twin lift of a 140-tonne electricity transformer from a vessel to a waiting heavy lift vehicle was carried out expertly.

"The guys made it look really easy, but there are points when the precision is absolutely crucial, and great skill, control and communication is vital," says cargo and wharf services manager Kim Daine.

👉 You can read the full story here:
https://www.porttaranaki.co.nz/news/crane-skills-transform-tricky-heavy-lift

👉 To read our May Portal newsletter, click here:
https://www.porttaranaki.co.nz/news/portal-may-2026

20/05/2026

🫕 Soup is known as food for the soul - providing emotional comfort, healing and nourishment.

So it was fitting that today we came together for a soup lunch to support the Staff Emergency Fund.

🤝 The fund, which is managed by the port Social Club Committee, helps out at times of hardship or need, such as when a team member or a family member is undergoing medical treatment, or when a staff member is having a tough time.

💛 The money helps fund petrol vouchers, frozen meals, gift cards, hampers, and accommodation.

All the money is raised through donations or fundraising, so in exchange for a few coins or notes today, staff were given a warm, comforting mug of soup!

👏 Well done to all involved.

07/05/2026

Some recent port activity.
☀️ Beautiful autumn days, sunrises and sunsets.

📸 Pieter Borsje, Guy Mexted

26/04/2026

Beautiful photos on a beautiful weekend.

We hope all members of the New Plymouth Yacht Club have had a fantastic season.

We're proud to be principal sponsor of this vibrant and energetic club.

23/04/2026

Inspiring kōrero filled Port Taranaki yesterday, as Ngāti Te Whiti hapū shared their vision for Ngāmotu Marae – a central New Plymouth marae that has been decades in the making and will be a legacy for future generations.

Port Taranaki hosted a project briefing and site visit on behalf of NP Partners, a collaborative forum of companies, organisations, community leaders, entrepreneurs and the New Plymouth District Council, which works to source investment for innovative, future-focused projects in the region.

Port Taranaki is a foundation corporate partner of NP Partners.

Earthworks are underway on the marae site, which is on hapū-owned land on Ocean View Parade adjacent to Ngāmotu Beach.

After almost 200 years without a permanent home, once complete, the Ngāti Te Whiti hapū marae will boast a wharenui that sleeps up to 80 people, a wharekai (dining area) catering for up to 100, ātea (welcoming space) and gathering spaces, and administration and support facilities.

Embracing his 10-year-old grandson, Ngāti Te Whiti Whenua Tōpu Trust chairperson and chair of the marae build, Shelton Healey, shared his personal aspirations for the marae.

“When this marae is open, I can see myself and this young fella sitting inside, lights off, in the dark, looking out over our whenua, our moana. That’s my ultimate dream. And I know that all our people have their own dreams and aspirations for this marae. It will be a very special place.”

The marae’s mission is to bring people together, and in that vein, Ngāmotu Marae will be a welcoming cultural hub for all the community, providing spaces for meetings, conferences, celebrations, education, events and workshops, teaching and sharing the history of Ngāmotu, and contributing to economic and tourism growth.

Port Taranaki neighbours the marae, and chief executive Simon Craddock said the port was very pleased work was underway on the long-anticipated marae.

“We truly value our relationship with Ngāti Te Whiti hapū, and we’ve seen it grow in openness and trust over recent years to become a constructive partnership.

“We operate on the rohe of Ngāti Te Whiti – land of deep cultural and historical significance, so we are genuinely supportive of Ngāmotu Marae. It will be a cultural and community anchor and provide opportunities for wider ambitions in the future.”

👉 For more information about Ngāmotu Marae, head to: https://www.ngamotumarae.org.nz/

👉 If you would like to donate, head to: https://taranakifoundation.org.nz/projects/ngamotu-marae/

Taranaki Foundation
New Plymouth District Council

21/04/2026

Port Taranaki environment manager Kevin Lehrke recently featured in Biosecurity Taranaki's newsletter Biosecurity Matters.

Port Taranaki is a foundation member of Biosecurity Taranaki, which brings together a diverse range of individuals and organisations who are committed to protecting the region from the threat of pests, weeds and diseases.

Here's what Kevin had to say about biosecurity at Port Taranaki.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 p𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘁?
I have the environment manager portfolio. The aspect that I enjoy most is making a science contribution into business decisions.

𝗬𝗼𝘂’𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗧 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 – 𝘄𝗵𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗧𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗸𝗶 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗱?
Our vision is to be "The pride of Taranaki” and our mission is “Enable trade, fuelling regional growth.” So maintaining, promoting and enhancing biosecurity in the region is a natural fit.

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝗶𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗧𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗸𝗶 𝗳𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆?
New threats are beginning to emerge (think caulerpa, clams, hornets, moths) and I think that this will probably accelerate over the next few years as changes in sea temperature, rainfall patterns, wind etc come into play.

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸?
Having eyes, ears and perhaps noses everywhere – and this might include advances in science and technology. I say noses because I think the abilities dogs have to detect things that humans can’t see is significantly under-utilised.

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆, 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂?
I am learning to play bridge – and I’m loving it!

16/04/2026

Wow - this is pretty inspiring. 🥰 👏

Check out this video marking Taranaki Foundation's 10 years in support of the region.

Port Taranaki is a proud operational supporter of Taranaki Foundation.

Port Taranaki general manager commercial Ross Di**le says the foundation's work aligns with the port’s commitment to the region.

“Taranaki Foundation plays an important role helping build a better future for our region. Our support reflects our ongoing commitment to community wellbeing, growth and development.”

13/04/2026

Here he is - Buoy Boy is officially now Buoyden Barrett!

👏 Congratulations to Calvey Farquhar for coming up with the winning name.

😃 We look forward to seeing Buoyden out and about providing harbour water safety messages.

Taranaki Regional Council
Port Taranaki Harbourmaster

🎉 Yeah buoy! We have a winner!! Buoy Boy is now Buoyden Barrett!!!
Thanks to everyone who came up with some awesome name in the comp. The judges found it tough as there were so many great entries, but the standout name was from Calvey Farquhar, who has picked the VHF radio as his prize. 👏
If All Blacks star Beauden Barrett wants to take a selfie with his water safety buoy namesake – we’d love to see the two legends side by side!
Thanks also to Port Taranaki for sharing the post and helping us to get nearly 220 buoy-based pun-heavy entries!

📸 Photo of Beauden from his page.