WAITARA
- Latitude: -38.9941 •
- Longitude: 174.233 •
- East Australia •
- Port in New Zealand
Address: New Plymouth District Taranaki New Zealand
Web-site: https://www.porttaranaki.co.nz/waitara
Waitara is a town in the Taranaki region of the North Island, New Zealand. Although it has a port, it's not one of the major commercial ports in New Zealand like Auckland, Wellington, or Lyttelton. Instead, the port is more locally focused and historically has been used for industrial and regional shipping activities.
Description of Waitara Port:
Location: Waitara is situated on the west coast of the North Island, near the mouth of the Waitara River, approximately 18 kilometers northeast of New Plymouth. The geographical coordinates are approximately 38.9978° S latitude, 174.2326° E longitude.
History: Historically, the port of Waitara developed around its agricultural and forestry products. It played a significant role in the region's early industrial activities, particularly in the export of frozen meat and other agricultural products.
Specifications and Facilities:
Port Type: Minor port primarily used for industrial, agricultural, and regional shipping.
Berth Details: Generally, the port facilities can accommodate smaller vessels, including fishing boats, small cargo ships, and potentially minor industrial vessels.
Navigation: Access to the port is via the Waitara River, which flows into the Tasman Sea. The river mouth can be shallow, and shoaling might occur, requiring careful navigation, especially for larger vessels.
Warehousing and Storage: The port area includes limited warehousing facilities primarily designed to handle local agricultural and industrial products.
Cargo Handling: The cargo handling facilities at Waitara are relatively basic. Activities largely focus on bulk goods related to local industries, such as timber, agricultural products, and some light industrial goods.
Transport Links: Waitara is connected to other parts of the North Island by road. The nearest major city is New Plymouth, which offers broader logistics and transport links, including rail and road networks.
Anchorage: Limited sheltered anchorage is available. Larger vessels typically do not anchor here due to the port's relatively shallow entry and limited facilities.
Tidal Range and Conditions: Tidal conditions need to be monitored as they can influence the depth of the entrance channel and berthing areas.
Environmental Regulations: Being in New Zealand, the port operates under strict environmental regulations to protect the marine and coastal environment. This includes measures to prevent pollution and manage the impact of shipping on local ecosystems.
Future Development: As of the latest data, there are no significant plans for major expansion, keeping the port primarily as a local and regional hub.
Overview:
Waitara’s port primarily serves local needs and has limited facilities for large-scale commercial shipping. It remains an essential feature for the town’s historical and current industrial activities, though its role compared to New Zealand's major ports is quite modest.