Taranaki is a fabulous region to work, play and raise a family, and we’re proud to be an integral member of the Taranaki whānau.

For more than 140 years, our port has played a crucial role in the economic and social wellbeing of the region.

We strive to fulfil our vision to be The Pride of Taranaki through the support and endorsement of our community. 

  • We pay annual dividends to our sole shareholder, the Taranaki Regional Council. The dividends are used to offset Taranaki Regional Council rates for the benefit of the people of the region.
  • We provide discounted lease rentals to community organisations and peppercorn lease rentals to the New Plymouth District Council and the Department of Conservation.
  • We own and maintain the Lee Breakwater carpark, boat ramp and jetties, including the kids’ fishing jetty. These areas are open to the public and are extremely popular with fishermen, other on-water recreational users, cyclists, walkers, runners, and families.
  • We work with a number of organisations to enable the Ngāmotu Beach area to be used for public events and activities, including the regular Seaside Market, the Weet-bix Kids’ TRYathlon, the Tri Taranaki Festival, which includes the elite event World Triathlon Continental Cup, the annual Flannagan Cup open water swim and the Rainbow Run.
  • We consult regularly with the New Plymouth District Council, Ngāti Te Whiti hapū, and the Ngāti Te Whiti Whenua Topu Trust – known as the Port Areas of Mutual Interest (PAMI) group – around issues relating to the wider port area, including Ngāmotu Beach.
  • We regularly present to selected community organisations and invite their feedback on our community engagement and environmental performance.

We provide sponsorships to a range of community organisations, many with a marine focus. 

North Taranaki Foodbanks

We’ve partnered with North Taranaki foodbanks to fund meat packs that are included in food parcels distributed to those in need in our communities. The support has had a huge impact, with more than 1,740 packets of meat handed out in the first year. We’re proud this initiative has had a positive impact in the community.

Supporting regional business

COVID-19 has put pressure on local businesses, and Port Taranaki has committed to do our bit to help the Taranaki economy continue to be robust and thrive. We’ve signed up to the Procure Taranaki Charter, which encourages companies and organisations to consider local suppliers first when making procurement decisions.

NP Partners

The desire to help the New Plymouth district remain vibrant, enterprising and resilient is the motivation for Port Taranaki to become a foundation member of public-private development forum NP Partners. NP Partners is a partnership between companies, organisations, community leaders, entrepreneurs and the New Plymouth District Council (NPDC), which is designed to use their combined skills, experience and networks to create opportunities and source investment to build a better city, district and community.

Coastguard Taranaki

Port Taranaki is a proud supporter of Coastguard Taranaki, which has been helping to save lives by providing marine search and rescue services along the region’s coast for almost 50 years.

Other sponsorships

We support a number of marine-related groups and organisations, including as principal sponsor of the New Plymouth Yacht Club, and as sponsor of East End Surf Life Saving Club, Surf Life Saving Taranaki, the Ngā Motu Marine Reserve Society for Seaweek, the New Plymouth Sport Fishing and Underwater Club Energy Competition, and the annual Flannagan Cup open water swim.

Te Hapai Hoe

Te Hapai Hoe is a charitable organisation for waka ama in Taranaki. The organisation aims to support Taranaki whānau to a positive future through the experience and culture of waka. The organisation has been established with support of Toi Foundation, NZ Police, and local iwi. Port Taranaki has made land available on the waterfront for the placement of a shipping container, from which Te Hapai Hoe operates. About 100 young people each year will go through the Te Hapai Hoe programme.

Ngāti Te Whiti hapū

Ngāti Te Whiti hapū is the mana whenua of New Plymouth. The port area holds much significance to the hapū and we work and consult with Ngāti Te Whiti and Te Atiawa iwi with regards to consents and access to wāhi tapu sites and taonga in our operations area. We are looking to further strengthen our relationship with the hapū and iwi by working with Ngāti Te Whiti on a Cultural Values Statement, which includes proposals to align our actions and engagement more closely with Ngāti Te Whiti ngā kaupapa (values).