24 April 2026

Sarah Samson
[FYI request #34223 email]

Ref: 003-2026EGOIA

Dear Sarah

Thank  you  for  your  email  of  24  March  2026  to  my  Office  requesting,  under  the  Official
Information Act 1982 (the OIA), the following information:
…all information and communication regarding Hon Wil is’ travel to Marsden Point on
the weekend of March 21- 22 2026.
This is including, but not limited to, communications - all messages (any medium -
Signal, Whatsapp, text) emails and written notes - about the Minister’s travel to
Marsden Point on the specified weekend.
I have interpreted your request as seeking information and correspondence held by my office
relating to my travel to Marsden Point over the weekend of 21 March 2026.

Please find enclosed the following documents:
Document  Title
1
Email from Private Secretary (Economic Growth) to Senior Press Secretary
2
Event briefing – visit to Channel Infrastructure
3
Text messages from Senior Press Secretary
I have decided to release the documents listed above, subject to information being withheld
under one or more of the following sections of the OIA as applicable:
•  section 9(2)(a) – to protect the privacy of natural persons, including that of deceased
natural persons
•  section  9(2)(ba)(i)  –  to  protect  information  which  is  subject  to  an  obligation  of
confidence or which any person has been or could be compelled to provide under the
authority of any enactment, where the making available of the information would be
likely  to  prejudice  the  supply  of  similar  information,  or  information  from  the  same
source,  and  it  is  in  the  public  interest  that  such  information  should  continue  to  be
supplied
•  section 9(2)(f)(iv) – to maintain the current constitutional conventions protecting the
confidentiality of advice tendered by Ministers and officials, and
•  section 9(2)(g)(i) – to maintain the effective conduct of public affairs through the free
and frank expression of opinions.

In making my decision, I have considered the public interest considerations in section 9(1) of
the OIA.

You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or
freephone 0800 802 602.

Yours sincerely

Hon Nicola Wil is
Minister of Finance
Minister for Economic Growth

Out of Scope
From:
John Creech <[email address]>
Sent:
Saturday, 21 March 2026 1:33 pm
To:
Nick Venter
Cc:
Hannah Miller
Subject:
Channel Infrastructure briefing
Attachments:
Out of Scope
Event briefing - visit to Channel
Infrastructure.pdf; Out of Scope

Hi Nick,

Here’s a brieﬁng for tomorrow with the requested info. Let me know if you need anything further. I’ll be coming
through town in a li le while, and happy to swing by the oﬃce and print if that helps you. Otherwise happy to leave
you to it. Out of Scope

OIA

Hope you’ve managed to get a break today.

Ngā mihi
John

John Creech
under
Private Secretary (Economic Growth) | Office of Hon Nicola Willis
Minister of Finance | Minister for Economic Growth | Minister for Social Investment
DDI: s 9(2)(a)
| M: s 9(2)(a)

Email: [email address] Website: www.Beehive.govt.nz
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

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1

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EVENT BRIEFING
Visit to Channel Infrastructure terminal on 22 March 2026
Date:
21 March 2026
Priority:
Urgent
Security
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  Tracking
N/A
classification:
number:

Purpose
You are scheduled to visit the Channel Infrastructure terminal at Marsden Point on Sunday 22
March 2026. This briefing provides background information for your visit and matters you may wish
to discuss with Channel Infrastructure.
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Recommendations
The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment recommends that you:
a  Note the contents of this briefing in preparation for your visit.
Noted

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Dominic Kebbel
Hon Nicola Wil is
Manager, Gas and Fuel Policy
Minister of Finance
Building, Resources and Markets, MBIE

..... / ...... / ......
..... / ...... / ......


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Meeting purpose and logistics
Date:
21 March 2026
Time:
4:30 to 5pm
Location:
Channel Infrastructure terminal, Port Marsden Highway, Ruakaka, Northland
Rob Buchanan, CEO, Channel Infrastructure
Attendees:
Attendee biography is included in Annex One.

1.
You are visiting the Channel Infrastructure terminal at Marsden Point on Sunday, 31 March
2026 to view the unloading of fuel from an incoming ship. This visit aims to reassure the
public that fuel cargoes are stil  being delivered to New Zealand.
2.
This briefing provides you with background information on Channel Infrastructure (Channel),
its current operation at Marsden Point, the shutdown of the refinery there, and Channel’s
proposal to bring unused tanks online for diesel storage.
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3.
Backpocket Q&As are also attached in Annex Two.
Channel Infrastructure
4.
Channel operates the fuel import terminal at Marsden Point, which stores about 40 per cent
of New Zealand’s petrol and diesel and about 80 per cent of our jet fuel. Channel handles
between 3-3.5 bil ion litres of transport fuels annually, primarily supplying the Auckland and
Northland markets, which make up 40 per cent of New Zealand’s fuel demand.
5.
Channel has the long-term vision for the Marsden Point site to become an Energy Precinct.
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In this vision, the site would accommodate a range of energy projects, which focus on
developing additional fuel storage and exploring green fuel manufacturing opportunities.
Key assets for fuel storage and distribution
6.
The Marsden Point terminal is the largest terminal in New Zealand. Its key assets include:
•
a deep-water berth and jetty infrastructure that can receive large tankers
•
290 mil ion litres (ML) of storage capacity shared by three major fuel importers, bp,
Mobil, Z Energy — more jet fuel storage is expected to be available in early 2027
•
about 350 ML tank capacity available for conversion for fuel storage
•
180 hectares of highly strategic land of which only one third is currently in use
•
connections to the natural gas network and a high voltage electricity grid (both of which
were developed for the previous refinery operation on-site).
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7.
Channel Infrastructure’s terminal supplies fuel to a Truck Loading Facility at Marsden Point
and via the Ruakaka to Auckland pipeline to the Wiri terminal near Auckland Airport. Al  three
fuel types are supplied to Wiri through the pipeline.
8.
There are some potential options for further developing the Marsden Point site, including the
production of green fuels, such as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and green hydrogen. The
map below shows the existing infrastructure of the Marsden Point site, and where new
facilities could be located in the future.

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Source: Channel Infrastructure (2025)
Refinery shutdown
9.
Before the Marsden Point refinery started transitioning to an import terminal, the refinery
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produced around 70 per cent of New Zealand's petroleum fuels. The Marsden Point refinery
operated as a tolling refinery, receiving a fee from fuel companies, based on refining margins
(the value of the refined products minus the input costs). In a high-margin environment, there
was a "cap" which was the maximum limit customers had to pay. When margins were low,
customers were required to pay fixed 'floor' payments to cover the refinery's operating costs.
10.  The Marsden Point refinery was closed in March 2022. It was a commercial decision driven
by difficulties in competing with mega-refineries overseas. Refining margins plunged at the
end of 2019 when the COVID-19 pandemic started and led to excess global refinery
capacity.
11.  Much of the former refining equipment and plant was decommissioned upon closure. This
involved making all the units safe, including disconnecting power, control systems, water and
gas connections. Pipework was cut and capped.
Channel’s proposal to bring unused storage tanks online for diesel
storage
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12.  Channel’s proposal is to bring in two unused tanks online for diesel storage, one with 80ML
capacity and the other with 13ML capacity. The first tank would provide around 8 days’ cover
of diesel in New Zealand. The second would provide just over a day’s cover. To put this in
context, fuel importers are currently required to have a minimum of 21 days’ cover. The three
major importers wil  be required to have 28 days’ cover from 1 July 2028 (Minister Jones was
due to report back to Cabinet on whether this obligation should be extended to Gull and
Tasman Oil Services Limited in Q2 2026.
13.  s 9(2)(ba)(i)

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s 9(2)(ba)(i)

14.  s 9(2)(ba)(i)



15.  Assuming that the 80ML tank could be fil ed in the fuel shortage (in addition to the business-
as-usual (BAU) shipments arriving) Channel’s proposal would have some fuel security
benefits. s 9(2)(ba)(i)

16.  s 9(2)(g)(i)

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a.
s 9(2)(g)(i)


b.
s 9(2)(g)(i), s 9(2)(f)(iv)


c.
s 9(2)(g)(i)

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d.
s 9(2)(g)(i)


e.
s 9(2)(g)(i)


f.
s 9(2)(g)(i)


g.
s 9(2)(g)(i)

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h.
s 9(2)(g)(i)



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Risks and mitigations
17.  There might be media questions about whether the Government is taking sufficient action to
mitigate the impact of the Middle East conflict on fuel markets. We recommend that you read
officials’ latest updates and policy advice on the response to the conflict.
Communications / Media
18.  Media wil  be present at the event.
Contacts
Name
Position / organisation
Telephone
Communication consultant,
Laura Malcolm
s 9(2)(a)

Channel Infrastructure
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Annexes
Annex One: Attendee biography
Annex Two: Backpocket Q&As
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Annex One: Attendee biography
Rob Buchanan, Chief Executive Officer, Channel
Infrastructure
Rob was appointed CEO of Channel Infrastructure in
2023. He has also recently become the Chair of the
Northland Corporate Group.
Rob was previously GM Growth & Trading at
Manawa Energy, where he had responsibility for the
company’s renewables development, energy trading
and commercial and industrial sales functions.
Prior to Manawa Energy, he had an almost 20-year
career in investment banking, advising companies in
New Zealand, Australia and Europe, most recently

as Head of Mergers & Acquisitions at Forsyth Barr in
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New Zealand.

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Annex Two: Backpocket Q&A
In light of the Middle East conflict, does the Government want to reconsider reestablishing
the Marsden Point refinery?
•  The Fuel Security Study looked at reestablishing the Marsden Point oil refinery.
•  Regardless of the substantive merits of having an operating oil refinery in the country, it
was estimated it would cost between NZ$6-16 bil ion to reopen, take at least six years and
then need to be supported by ongoing government subsidies.
•  Increasing the MSO is a more cost-effective option to improve our fuel resilience. Last year
we did this by raising the MSO for diesel from 21 days’ cover to 28 days’ cover. The
obligation wil  come into effect in 2028.
Has the Government done enough to get ready for an event like this one?
•  I’m sure that, after this event is over, we’l  take a good look at our fuel security system and
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whether anything can be done to improve it. At this stage I’m focused on managing the
current situation.
[The Fuel Security Study concluded that a portfolio of mitigation options is the best way to
secure our fuel system. This has been reflected in the Fuel Security Plan, which Cabinet
approved in 2025. The Fuel Security Plan sets out the Government’s proposed actions to
improve fuel security in New Zealand in the medium term. (Note that this is distinct from the
National Fuel Plan, which is used to manage fuel shortages like the current one.)]

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Document Outline