Not all the expansion related work had negative connotations however. In July 1985, the running Refinery was shut down for almost five months to make the tie-ins to the expansion and for various revamp modifications to the old plant. This was a crucial time due to the need to import all New Zealand’s fuels. Round the clock shifts were worked and the Refinery was again started up, on time, on November 22nd.

The construction of the 170KM pipeline to Auckland and the Wiri terminal had also been proceeding very smoothly during this time. The Wiri terminal was completed without a day lost to industrial action in the 25 months of construction. The RAP (Refinery to Auckland Pipeline) was laid for most of its course in the same trench as the Auckland to Whangarei natural gas line (the latter was officially opened by Bill Birch, the Minister of Energy, on October 11 1983). A section of the trench for the natural gas line South of the Manukau harbour was also used to lay the Wiri to Mangere airport Jet line.

This shared line philosophy resulted in reduced costs for both parties (NZRC and Natural Gas Corporation). The pipeline project won the Construction Project of the Year Award and has proved to be a major asset to New Zealand fuel supplies. The Wiri terminal now handles over 40% of the Refinery’s total production.