Channel Infrastructure

Client: Channel Infrastructure
Location: Marsden Point, New Zealand
Start Date: Early 1960’s
End Date: Ongoing

For McKay, the connection with the Marsden Point Oil Refinery is much more than a project. Beginning in the early 1960s, this collaboration has endured for more than six decades and stands as a landmark of New Zealand’s mid-twentieth-century industrial growth, forming a defining chapter in McKay’s 90-year story and long-term commitment to the nation’s industrial sector.

A relationship built over time

The partnership between McKay and the Refining NZ (now Channel Infrastructure) began in the early 1960s during the Marsden Point refinery’s initial construction phase. At the time, the head contractor encountered a shortage of qualified electricians and approached Joe Faithful for support. McKay was then a growing electrical contracting and retail business, led by Joe Faithful and supported by a small but highly skilled team of around 20 people. The refinery, meanwhile, represented New Zealand’s most ambitious industrial undertaking of the era, established to secure the country’s fuel supply and support a rapidly expanding economy.

Recognising both the scale of the challenge and the opportunity it presented, Joe agreed to assist, supplying 12 electricians to the project, effectively committing the entirety of McKay’s electrical workforce. This decisive contribution proved instrumental in supporting the successful delivery of the refinery and marked the beginning of a long-standing relationship between McKay and Refining NZ. As a direct result of this commitment, McKay’s workforce grew from 20 to 50 staff.

Evolution and change

Over time, both McKay and the Marsden Point facility have evolved significantly, and their partnership has evolved alongside them. The refinery grew well beyond its original 1960s design, becoming one of New Zealand’s most complex industrial sites, expanding capacity, incorporating advanced process units, and responding to changing national petrochemical needs. In parallel, McKay transformed from a small team of electricians into a nationally recognised electrical contracting and engineering business.

As the petro chem sector changed, so too did the nature of McKay’s work with the company. In 2022, the site transitioned away from refining crude oil, moving instead to fuel importation, storage, and distribution. McKay played a key role throughout the company’s transition to Channel infrastructure, which is now New Zealand’s largest fuels import terminal, delivering upgrades and ongoing maintenance to support the site’s changing operational model.

Despite ongoing shifts in the business, its people, and core operations, McKay consistently retained its role on site, a testament to the trust, capability, and reliability the company had established from the outset.

Looking ahead

As McKay looks to the future, its partnership with Channel Infrastructure remains as dynamic as ever. Today, the site continues to evolve, with a strong focus on world-class operations and the repurposing of existing infrastructure to support New Zealand’s energy resiliencee. Current and emerging work includes the conversion of legacy crude oil tanks for jet fuel storage, as well as redevelopment opportunities across decommissioned refinery areas, including potential biofuel initiatives.

The evolution of the electrical industry has also driven significantly higher compliance and safety standards. In response, McKay has invested heavily in workforce development. Electricians working at Channel’s Marsden Point site complete a dedicated one-week hazardous-area installation course, followed by up to six months of structured theory and practical application, a substantial commitment that reflects both client expectations and McKay’s own safety standards.

Current work

Today, McKay maintains a dedicated on-site presence at Marsden Point, with around 10 full-time personnel supporting ongoing operations, maintenance and project work.

This year, 2026, McKay is focused on projects including work associated with Channel Infrastructure’s move to build a new bitumen import terminal at site for Higgins Contractors. Previously a by-product of crude oil refining, bitumen is now imported directly, reflecting the site’s transition away from traditional refining while continuing to play a vital role in New Zealand’s supply chain.

Commenting, Channel’s General Manager – Operations Jack Stewart says that McKay’s have been absolutely critical to the company’s success over many years:

“McKay’s are a core partner for us, and we couldn’t have built the strong business we have today without their support and involvement. They are world-class at what they do, and their long-term association and familiarity with our site makes them a key strategic partner for us.”

A legacy

This enduring collaboration demonstrates that the relationship between McKay and Channel Infrastructure is far from static. It has continuously evolved, strengthened by shared problem-solving and mutual trust.

Partnerships such as this sit at the heart of McKay’s 90-year story. Decades of involvement in complex, high-stakes industrial environments have allowed the company to build deep technical expertise, expand its capabilities, and earn the confidence of clients across the country. The Marsden Point relationship stands as a powerful example of McKay’s long-term approach to partnership and performance.

For more than 90 years, McKay has been delivering electrical and engineering solutions that support New Zealand’s growth, across the industrial, infrastructure, marine, renewables and construction sectors, providing innovative electrotechnology solutions to a wide range of industries. Learn more about McKay’s capabilities.