A Northland iwi is disappointed permission has been granted to dredge the Whangarei Harbour

Independent commissioners have granted a number of resource consents to Refining NZ.

It plans to deepen and realign the harbour entrance, to better accommodate Suezmex vessels, which can only use the harbour 90 per cent full due to the channel's depth.

Patuharakeke iwi trustee Julianne Chetham says it's not what they wanted, but it's pleasing some alterations to resource consents have been made.

She says opponents successfully pushed for more robust monitoring and the dredging timetable.

The Board will decide tomorrow if it will appeal the decision.