Motunui

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Motunui is a settlement in northern Taranaki, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 3 close to the shore of the North Taranaki Bight, six kilometres east of Waitara.

Motunui is best known as the location of the Motunui methanol plant, the largest in the world at the time of construction^[1]. This was opened in 1986, converting natural gas to methanol and the methanol to synthetic petrol using a process developed by Mobil. The plant was one of the Think Big projects of the Third National Government. The process became uneconomic in the late 1990s as a result of falling oil prices, so the plant was switched to producing methanol for export. It ceased production in 2004 as the approaching depletion of the Māui gas field raised gas prices.^[2]

In 2005, an unmanned production station for the new offshore Pohokura oil/gas field was constructed immediately west of the Motunui plant. This commenced commercial production in September 2006. ^[3]

Contents 1 References 2 Further reading 2.1 General historical works 2.2 Business history 2.3 Churches 2.3.1 Anglican 2.4 Environment 2.5 Maori 2.6 People 2.7 Schools

[edit] References

[edit] Further reading

[edit] General historical works

• Motunui School and districts centennial: 1894-1994, Motunui, [N.Z.]: The School, 1994, ISBN 0-473-02503-5 

• Fraser, D. P. (1989), Waitara, n.p.: D. P. Fraser 

[edit] Business history

• GTG: gas to gasoline, New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Taranaki Newspapers, 1986 

• This is a supplement to the Taranaki Daily News of 22 February 1986.

• Mobil backgrounds the gas-to-gasoline project, Wellington, [N.Z.]: Public Affairs Dept., Mobil Oil New Zealand, 1981 

• Burns, David et al. (1984), Proposal to manufacture pyromellitic dianhydride and other derivatives of Motunui heavy gasoline: a presentation to the Minister of Energy in support of a joint application by ICI New Zealand Ltd and Applied Chemistry Ltd for first right of purchase for components of Motunui heavy gasoline, 19th December 1984, Wellington, [N.Z.]: ICI New Zealand ; Applied Chemistry Ltd. 

• Cobb, John (1985), New Zealand synfuel: the world's first natural gas to gasoline plant, New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: New Zealand Synthetic Fuels Corporation 

• New Zealand Ministry of Energy (1981), Synthetic gasoline: a real proposition : the synthetic gasoline plant, Motunui, North Taranaki, Wellington, [N.Z.]: New Zealand Ministry of Energy 

• New Zealand Synthetic Fuels Corporation (1980), Proposed synthetic petrol plant: application under the National Development Act 1979, Auckland, [N.Z.]: Russell McVeagh McKenzie Bartleet & Co. 

• New Zealand Synthetic Fuels Corporation (1981), Proposed synthetic petrol plant: application under the National Development Act 1979, Auckland, [N.Z.]: Russell McVeagh McKenzie Bartleet & Co. 

• New Zealand Synthetic Fuels Corporation (1986?), Synfuel backgrounder, New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: New Zealand Synthetic Fuels Corporation 

• New Zealand Synthetic Fuels Corporation (198?), Synthetic petrol project, Motunui, Taranaki, New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: New Zealand Synthetic Fuels Corporation 

[edit] Churches

[edit] Anglican

• Alexander, Ada C. (1976), St John the Baptist, Waitara: centenary, 1876-1976, New Plymouth, [N.Z.]: Taranaki Newspapers 

[edit] Environment

• Bechtel Petroleum Inc. & En-Consult Technology (1981), New Zealand Synthetic Fuels Corporation Limited proposed synthetic petrol plant: environmental impact report, Wellington, [N.Z.]: Bechtel Petroleum, Inc. ; En-Consult Technology 

• New Zealand Commission for the Environment (1981), Environmental impact audit by the Commission for the Environment on the proposal by the New Zealand Synthetic Fuels Corporation for a synthetic petrol plant at Motunui, Taranaki, Wellington, [N.Z.]: New Zealand Commission for the Environment 

• New Zealand Electricity Department (1983), Environmental impact assessment: Motunui transmission, Palmerston North, [N.Z.]: New Zealand Electricity, Design and Construction 

• Taranaki Catchment Commission (1981), Synthetic petrol plant, Motunui: recommendations to planning tribunal., Stratford, [N.Z.]: Taranaki Catchment Commission and Regional Water Authority 

• Taranaki Catchment Commission (1983), Dewatering programme at New Zealand Synthetic Fuels Corporation's site at Motunui, Stratford, [N.Z.]: Taranaki Catchment Commission 

• Waitangi Tribunal (1997), Motunui-Waitara environmental pollution claim, Taranaki: resource kit, Wellington, [N.Z.]: Waitangi Tribunal 

• Bates, Bryan D. & Chiew, W. Y. (1981), Part I, hydrology. Part II, groundwater., Stratford, [N.Z.]: Taranaki Catchment Commission 

• Bayfield, William E. (1981), Oceanography, Stratford, [N.Z.]: Taranaki Catchment Commission 

• Benge, Kevin D. (1983), Gravel budget of Motunui Beach, North Taranaki (M.Sc. - University of Waikato) 

• Hutchings, John (1981), Recreational use of water in areas adjacent to the proposed synthetic petrol plant at Motunui, North Taranaki, Stratford, [N.Z.]: Taranaki Catchment Commission 

• Jardine, Edward H. (1981), Water and land use: part I, Tikorangi-Motunui district: part II, Onaero Catchment., Stratford, [N.Z.]: Taranaki Catchment Commission 

• MacDiarmid, Alistair B. & Molloy, Janice (1981), Part I, marine ecology. Part II, bacteriology., Stratford, [N.Z.]: Taranaki Catchment Commission 

• Pilgrim, R. C. & Roser, B. P. (1982), Trace elements in soil, Motunui-Waitara, Taranaki: base-line survey 1982, Wellington, [N.Z.]: New Zealand Department of Health 

• Power, Fergus M. (1981), Toxicology, Stratford, [N.Z.]: Taranaki Catchment Commission 

[edit] Maori

• Waitangi Tribunal (1989), Report of the Waitangi Tribunal on the Motunui-Waitara claim (Wai 6), Wellington, [N.Z.]: Waitangi Tribunal 

• Waitangi Tribunal (1992), The Waitangi Tribunal claims: a resource for schools. Set two, Wellington, [N.Z.]: Waitangi Tribunal 

• James, Paul (1993), Occurrence and resolution of the Motunui-Waitara resource conflict (Wai-6) (M.Sc. - University of Canterbury) 

[edit] People

• Hard hats and oven mitts, Motunui, [N.Z.]: New Zealand Synthetic Fuels Corporation, 1984 

• Roskruge, Nick (1997), Marias' [i.e. Maria's] family: a compilation of family history of Anna Maria Marsh/Terrill/Farquhar = Te whanau a Maraea no Motunui: no Motunui a te whanau Marahi, na Maraea kau haere e nga uri ma, Palmerston North, [N.Z.]: Nick Roskruge 

[edit] Schools

• Motunui School and districts centennial: 1894-1994, Motunui, [N.Z.]: The School, 1994, ISBN 0-473-02503-5 

• Motunui (Waihi) School jubilee: 1894-1964, Motunui, [N.Z.]: The Jubilee Committee, 1964 

• The name of the school was changed from Waihi to Motunui in 1917

Coordinates: 38°59′S, 174°18′E