Marsden Point facts for kids
Marsden Point is a wide, flat piece of land that sticks out into the sea. It forms the southern entrance to Whangārei Harbour on the east coast of Northland, New Zealand. It's about 30 kilometers (18 miles) southeast of the city of Whangārei. This area is very important because it's where you'll find New Zealand's only oil refinery, called Marsden Point Oil Refinery, and a busy cargo port known as Northport.
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Exploring Marsden Point's Geography
Marsden Point is like a wide, flat sandy arm of land. It's made of sand dunes and other natural deposits that have built up over time. This landform creates the southern side of the entrance to Whangārei Harbour. The point is about 30 kilometers (18 miles) southeast of Whangārei. It's also around 140 kilometers (87 miles) from Auckland's city center.
The flat land at Marsden Point looks very different from the tall, forest-covered mountains across the channel. These mountains include the 420-meter (1,378-foot) Mount Manaia. Marsden Point is at the northern end of Bream Bay, which is a long bay stretching for 22 kilometers (14 miles). Most of the beaches here have beautiful white sand.
Because it's easy to get to the beaches and great spots for fishing, and the weather is nice with warm summers and mild winters, Marsden Point is a popular place for holidays. Many people also choose to live here. The area is part of the Whangarei District and the Northland Region local government areas. The Greater Marsden Point Area covers a large space, about 2,500 hectares (6,178 acres). It stretches from One Tree Point inside Whangārei Harbour to just south of the Ruakākā township on the open coast.
The People of Marsden Point
The original people of this land, known as the tangata whenua Māori people, are the Patuharakeke hapu (a sub-tribe). Their traditional area, called a rohe, stretches along the coast. It goes from a point north of Mangawhai Heads to the mouth of the Mangapai River, which is just south of Whangārei.
Industry at Marsden Point
Marsden Point is a key industrial hub for New Zealand.
- The Marsden Point Oil Refinery is the country's only oil refinery. It opened in 1964 right at the tip of the point. Its jetty, where ships dock, is in the harbor entrance channel.
- Northport is the main cargo port for the Northland region. It's located further up the channel, next to the refinery, and started operating in 2002.
- A factory belonging to Carter Holt Harvey was built in 2001. This factory makes laminated veneer lumber, a type of engineered wood product. It's located just southwest of the refinery.
- In the 1960s and 1970s, two oil-fired power stations, called Marsden A and Marsden B, were built near Ruakākā. These power stations were taken apart in 2011–2012.
- There are plans to build a new railway line, called the Marsden Point Branch railway. This line would connect the existing North Auckland Line to Northport, making it easier to transport goods.
Images for kids
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The oil refinery and the Carter Holt Harvey factory (partially hidden)
