OMV in New Zealand
Our story
We’ve been active in New Zealand since 1999, when we acquired shares in the Maari oil field. Over time, we expanded our position through further acquisitions, including the Māui gas field and a 74% share in the Pohokura gas field.
Today, we continue to operate these three offshore fields, as well as onshore infrastructure in Taranaki. Together, these assets play an important role in meeting domestic energy demand.
Across all of our activities, we are committed to responsible operations and reducing emissions in line with our net zero ambition.
Our activities
We operate a portfolio of offshore oil and gas assets in Taranaki, supported by onshore processing and storage facilities.
Maari
The Maari field is New Zealand’s largest producing oil field, located 80 km off the South Taranaki coast. Production began in 2009 at the Tiro Tiro Moana platform.
The field currently comprises nine production wells and two water injection wells. Reverse osmosis technology at the site reduces emissions by approximately 7,500 metric tons annually, with a second phase planned.
We hold a 69% interest in Maari and operate the field on behalf of our joint venture partners Horizon Oil International (26%) and Cue Taranaki (5%).
Pohokura
Pohokura has been operational since 2006 and is located around 4.5km off the Taranaki coast. At its peak, it supplied around 40% of New Zealand’s gas.
The field consists of six offshore wells and five onshore wells, supported by a small unmanned offshore platform and an onshore production facility in Motunui, north of Waitara, Taranaki. Operations are remotely controlled from our New Plymouth office, around 12 km away.
The site is home to New Zealand’s largest electric compressor, which avoids approximately 21,500 metric tons of CO2 emissions each year. We hold a 74% share in the Pohokura gas field and operate the asset on behalf of our joint venture partner Todd Energy (26%).
Māui
Located 35 km off the South Taranaki coast, the Māui gas field has been in operation for nearly 50 years. Gas from offshore wells is transported via the Māui A and B platforms and processed through the Māui Production Station at Oaonui, Taranaki.
The field is approaching the end of its productive life, but today still plays an important role in supporting domestic gas supply.
Ōmata Tank Farm
We operate four tanks at the Ōmata Tank Farm in New Plymouth, Taranaki, which store condensate and crude oil from our gas fields and other sites.
The facility is classified as a Major Hazard Facility under New Zealand legislation. We maintain an approved Safety Case in line with regulatory requirements administered by WorkSafe New Zealand.
Health, Safety, Security, and Environment (HSSE)
Our activities in New Zealand are governed by strict health, safety, security and environmental standards, supported by clear procedures and defined responsibilities that ensure regulatory compliance.
The Ōmata Tank Farm is classified as a Major Hazard Facility under New Zealand legislation, and its Safety Case documentation is available in line with regulatory requirements.
All new workers and contractors must complete the relevant HSSE site induction before commencing work. Contractors are also required to follow our Permit to Work processes and checklists.
Community Engagement
Our operations in New Zealand are guided by a strong commitment to environmental responsibility and community partnership.
We work closely with iwi, hapū, neighbors, local communities and regulators to ensure open dialogue and shared understanding of our activities. We view community engagement as an ongoing partnership and provide opportunities for feedback and local knowledge to inform our work.
At Pohokura, we have partnered with local hapū, Ngāti Rāhiri, to restore and regenerate culturally significant wetlands near the Pohokura onshore facility.
Supporting the Communities in which we operate
OMV NZ is dedicated to making a positive impact in the communities where we operate. We support a number of local initiatives that create positive outcomes for communities and support the UN SDGs of:
- Preventing poverty and contributing to healthy living
- Promoting lifelong learning opportunities
- Striving for climate action and circular resource management.
If you would like to talk to OMV New Zealand about support for a project or initiative, please contact our Community Partnerships team by emailing info.nz@omv.com.
On the House is a charitable trust in Taranaki that collects surplus food from local businesses and redistributes it to people in need. In addition to helping alleviate hunger, the initiative reduces food waste and delivers environmental and social benefits:
- For every kilogram of food recovered, at least 2.6 kg of carbon emissions are avoided.
- For every NZD 1 invested, the social return on investment is at least NZD 4.50.
“The support we receive from OMV has been instrumental in the impact we have been able to make in our community where so many are struggling due to the cost-of-living crisis, where our environment is suffering due to issues such as food waste, and where people are increasingly becoming marginalized and isolated due to lack of connection and meaning.” – Terry Hancock, On the House Charitable Trust
Rotokare is a 230ha pest free reserve with extensive wetlands and a natural lake. Home to many native and endangered bird species and fauna, the reserve is enclosed by a pest-proof fence circling the 8.2km reserve perimeter.
At Rotokare, the focus is restoring, protecting and enhancing the indigenous ecosystem within the fence and beyond. Through actively involving the community, the Rotokare Scenic Reserve Trust provides opportunities for education, recreation, inspiration and environmental sustainability.
OMV has proudly supported Rotokare and its biodiversity efforts for nearly 15 years.
House of Science is a Charitable Trust aimed at raising scientific literacy in primary and intermediate schools across New Zealand. Providing comprehensive and engaging science resources for children, and empowering teachers to deliver engaging science lessons to ensure every child in NZ becomes scientifically literate and set up for the future.
At OMV we want to foster young talent and promote educational growth to make a positive and lasting impact, House of Science ticks all of these boxes.
Partnerships
We work with a wide range of contractors and suppliers across our operations in New Zealand. If you are interested in working with us, you will need to register through our international Supplier Centre database.
As part of the registration process, suppliers identify the countries they would like to work in.
Key documents:
Ethics, governance & compliance
We do business the right way, everywhere we operate. In New Zealand, our activities are carried out in line with local laws and regulations, alongside OMV’s group-wide standards and governance framework.
This includes clear requirements on ethical conduct, compliance, and corporate governance. These are applied consistently across our operations and supported by defined processes, oversight, and accountability.
Get in touch
Corporate office
OMV New Zealand Ltd
PO Box 2621
Wellington 6140
New Zealand
Phone: +64 800 456 800
Email: info.nz@omv.com
Community feedback
We work closely with the communities where we operate and are committed to being a responsible neighbour. We have established a clear process for communities to provide feedback or raise concerns about our sites or activities.
If you have a concern, please contact us on +64 800 456 800 or email info.nz@omv.com.
All feedback is recorded and reviewed by the relevant team to ensure it is addressed in a timely, fair and consistent manner. You can expect an initial response within two business days and a detailed response within 20 working days.