Kapuni

After the Kapuni gas field was discovered in 1959, the processing infrastructure was built and began operating in 1970. Gas and condensate (liquid hydrocarbons) are separated by the Shell Todd Oil Services plant, and the gas is delivered to the adjacent Natural Gas Corporation, which distributes gas around the country. The condensate is transferred by pipeline to Port Taranaki, where it is shipped to Marsden Point oil refinery near Whangarei. Since operations began at Kapuni, a total of 16 wells have been drilled, including the highly successful Kapuni 14 in 1988.

History: Swiss immigrants settled around Kaponga and Kapuni in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and a number of their descendants still farm in the area.

Near Kapuni is Te Ngutu-o-te-manu domain – the site of the battle where, in 1868, Maori leader Titokowaru successfully routed an invading force of armed constabulary and forest rangers. Flamboyant Prussian soldier Gustavus von Tempsky was killed in this battle.