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Our NZ made cement is genuine NZ grade cement.

Golden Bay is proud to be New Zealand’s longest standing cement manufacturer 

Our history

The late 1800’s saw Nathaniel and John Wilson form John Wilson and Co – building a kiln, producing hydraulic lime, and manufacturing the first Portland Cement in New Zealand. By the early 1900’s, their works had 3 kilns and a capacity of 100 tonnes per week.

Cement manufacturing became a vast and abundant industry throughout New Zealand. The Golden Bay Company, the NZ Portland Cement Company, Dominion Portland Cement Co and Wilson’s Cement Co. were all thriving in different areas throughout New Zealand.

Over the years, NZ Portland Cement Co, Dominion Portland Cement Co. and Wilson’s Cement Co. merged together. Golden Bay moved to Portland and took ownership of the plant, and the business as we know it today began to take form.

In 1988, Golden Bay merged with Wilson’s Cement Co and Fletcher Building Limited took full ownership – securing a sustainable future for New Zealand’s cement production. Today, we’re committed to continue our lasting legacy of success well into New Zealand’s future.

1876
1908
1919
1929
1961
1971
1982
1989
1996
2001
2006
2021
1876

At Warkworth, former shoemaker Nathaniel Wilson built a kiln and produced hydraulic lime.

1878

Mr. John and Mr. James joined their brother Nathaniel, and formed a private company, known as Messrs. John Wilson & Company producing hydraulic lime.

1884

The first commercial quantities of Portland cement produced in the Southern Hemisphere by John Wilson & Co.

1901

NZ Portland Cement Co. was formed and operated on Matakohe (Limestone) Island in Whangarei Harbour

1907

The name of John Wilson & Company was changed to Wilsons Portland Cement Company Ltd (WPCC)

1908

The Golden Bay Company, a separate entity, started operations in Golden Bay, South Island.

1913

William Wilson, recently retired from WPCC, and George Winstone formed the Dominion Portland Cement Co. Ltd. (DPCC). Cement manufacturing commenced at the present Portland site located approximately 10 km South of Whangarei, utilising the local Portland rock and high-grade limestone sourced from Waro (40km North of Whangarei).

1916

DPCC installed two rotary kilns, 48.8 m long x 2.59 m diameter giving a total plant capacity of approximately 100,000 tonnes per annum

1918

WPCC and the New Zealand Portland Cement Company purchased the assets of the financially troubled DPCC which became Wilson’s (New Zealand) Portland Cement Limited

1919

NZ Portland Cement Co. ceased Operations on Limestone Island.

1921

Wilsons Collieries Ltd., a subsidiary of Wilson (New Zealand) Portland Cement Ltd, formed to operate a coal mine to supply the cement works, at Waro, near Hikurangi, 32 km North of Portland

1924

Number 3 rotary kiln (ex Limestone Island Works) lengthened and installed at Portland cement works.

1927

Number 4 rotary kiln (ex Limestone Island Works) lengthened and installed at Portland cement works.

1928

Three kilns were converted to the Wet process to enhance cement properties and produce a rapid hardening cement. Clinker production capacity at Portland increased to 200,000 tonnes per annum

1929

Operations ceased at the Warkworth Cement works

1955

Fifth rotary kiln (83.5m long) was installed at Portland Cement works. The total plant production capacity was now 260,000 tonnes per annum.

1955

Cement carrier “Golden Bay” enters service.

1956

Flotation plant came into operation.

1958

Cement carrier “Nathaniel Wilson” enters service.

 

 

1961

MV John Wilson enters service

1964

MV Ligar Bay enters service.

1966

Number 6 rotary kiln (141.7 m long) installed.  The capacity of the Portland Cement Works was now 460,000 tonnes per annum using the ‘wet’ process

1968

Cement carrier “Nathaniel Wilson” disposed of.

1970

Wilson’s (New Zealand) Portland Cement became part of Golden Bay owned by the Winstone Group.

1971

Flotation system abandoned.

1974

MV Cement King enters service.  High-grade limestone quarry developed at Wilsonville (adjacent to the Waro quarry)

1976

No's 3 and 4 kilns ceased production.

1976

Cement carrier “Golden Bay” (old) disposed of.

1979

MV Golden Bay enters service.  MV Ligar Bay disposed of.

 

 

1982

August No. 6 kiln ceased production while the conversion to the “dry” process was completed.

1983

The ‘dry’ process was introduced to the No. 6 kiln, with all earlier kilns being scrapped or mothballed. With a capacity of 430,000 tonnes per annum the energy consumption was almost halved by moving away from the wet process. A new raw mill and meal silos were built at the same time.

1985

MV John Wilson disposed of.

1986

Millionth tonne of clinker produced after the “dry” process conversion.

1988

The company was purchased by Fletcher Building, but its brand name of Golden Bay was retained.

1989

Golden Bay (Tarakohe) Plant closed.  No. 6 Cement Mill commissioned and No's 1, 2 and 3 Cement Mills ceased operation.

1989

MV Cement King disposed of.

1994

Cement mill control converted to SCADA system.

1995

X-ray fluorescence laboratory quality control was installed, and a high-level process logic control computer system was introduced increasing capacity to 600,000 tonnes per annum.
Automatic bagger and palletiser commissioned

 

 

1996

Water reclaim system commissioned.

1996

Cement plant in Bolivia was purchased (Emisa).

1998

Iron Addition Project commissioned to introduce iron sand into the raw meal and improve process performance.

1999

Limestone introduced into GP Cement.

2000

Purchase of Microsilica NZ Ltd.

 

 

2001

Process control system upgrade with ECS/SRD from FLSA

2002

High level Fuzzy Logic PC installed

2003

Introduction of bio-fuel as a partial replacement for coal.

2004

New Coal mill, Crossbar cooler, main burner and inline precalciner installed.

2005

Fly ash cement extender system installed for no4 and no5 cement mills. Cement mill 6 converted to closed circuit by Christian Pfeiffer. Raw material stacker-reclaimer installed and kiln feed system upgraded.

2005

Cement barge “Marsden Bay” enters service.

2006

Gas train upgrade completed with cyclones 1 replacement and new main bag filter installed. Portland now has an annual capacity of 850,000 tonnes per annum.

2009

“Eastport” (Auckland depot) relocated from Hamer Street to Bledisloe Wharf.

2016

MV Aotearoa Chief commissioned.

2017

Silo 9 and new marine bulk loadout facility commissioned.  MV Golden Bay sold.

 

 

 

2021

Waste End of Life Tyres 
The installation of a 2nd Alternate fuels handling system allows Golden Bay to push its thermal coal substation rates up to as high as 52% further reducing coal use and CO2 emissions 

2022

Launch of EcoSure  
By applying a newer binder technology to further reduce the carbon content of our products whilst maintaining high product quality standards. Golden Bay is now in the position to offer the lowest GP cement in New Zealand, EcoSure. 

 

Vision and values

What’s been essential throughout our 100 years of success is our constant drive towards the future, our determination, and our commitment to each other.  We want to be NZ's undisputed leader in cement.

We’ve always held the trust of the industry to consistently provide for the country.  Being sustainable is one of our fundamental approach to how we work as a team and work with our customers.

Our Values

  • Protect: the safety and protection of our people and environment are at the heart of what we do, everyday. 
  • Be bold: we enhance our ability to innovate and drive a growing business for our shareholders, customers, communities and employees, by making bold decisions.
  • Customer leading: we strive to not only put our customers first, but be ahead of the game for them, every day.
  • Better together: our roles and customers will change, but we will always build better, together.

Capability

Today our resources and teams stretch to all corners of New Zealand, and we’re proud to operate our Portland cement plant with a 967,000 tonne capacity.
With service and distribution centres in Portland,  Auckland, Hamilton, Mt Maunganui, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Napier, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Timaru, Dunedin and Invercargill, we’ve ensured that every Kiwi has access to our premium Portland Cement.

We operate with:

  • 850 ISO tanks
  • 231 talented staff
  • 42 cement road tankers
  • 15 service & distribution centres
  • 2 marine vessels
  • 1 cement plant
“Golden Bay are and have always been very customer focused, they have a great team around their products.”

Steve Bowers

Managing Director, Bowers Brothers

“Golden Bays total commitment to product quality and customer support as well as being 100% New Zealand made dovetails with our own philosophies.
We look forward to another 30 years of continued association.”

Don Mahoney

Managing Director, Supacrete Concrete

“At Counties Ready Mix we believe that it is important for us and our customers to be using a New Zealand made product. Golden Bay provides this and is backed up with a great team of good people giving technical support and assistance.
We look forward to continuing our long association with Golden Bay.”

Graham Payne

Managing Director, Counties ReadyMix

“Golden Bay have always supported our business’s with reliable supply and technical expertise when required.”

Paul Cane

Managing Director, Stresscrete Precast

“Golden Bay are a supplier that are true to their word and deliver a reliable product backed up by good service and technical knowledge.”

Anthony Bitossi

General Manager, Stevenson Concrete

“Working with GBC is a real pleasure. They have a great team of guys to support us, a very good product, and if a problem does arise always available to assist.”

Brian Grant

Director, Christchurch Readymix