Marsden Bay, New Zealand facts for kids

Marsden Bay is a special place located at the southern entrance of Whangārei Harbour in Northland, New Zealand. It's a mix of quiet coastal homes and important industrial areas. The western side of Marsden Bay is a community called One Tree Point. The eastern side is known as Marsden Point, which has a large industrial area. The town of Ruakākā is about 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) to the south.

The original Māori name for this area is Te Poupouwhenua.

A Look at Marsden Bay's Past

Looking across Whangārei Harbour from One Tree Point

Early Plans for a Town

Long ago, in the mid-1850s, there were plans for a town called Marsden. This town was meant to be the main business center for the area. It was chosen because it had deep water access, which was great for ships. It was also closer to Auckland than the area where Whangārei is now. The government even bought about 200 acres (81 hectares) of land on the point and divided it into smaller sections.

The Kauri Gum Industry Changes Things

However, the rise of the kauri gum industry changed these plans. Kauri gum was a valuable natural resin found in New Zealand forests. The focus of settlement shifted to Whangārei instead. This meant that Marsden did not become the big commercial center it was first planned to be.

Building the Oil Refinery

Much later, in the 1960s, a large oil refinery was built at Marsden Point. This refinery processes crude oil into useful products like petrol and diesel. It was expanded in the 1980s to handle even more oil. This industrial development became a very important part of the local economy.