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Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is playing up the "huge economic" opportunities that exist in Southland and has hinted the aluminium smelter at Tiwai Point could stay open longer than previously announced.

It comes as Regional Economic Development and Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones this morning also announced the Government was to invest $25 million for an upgrade of the Homer Tunnel, as well as a $5.3 million boost for Southland producers.

After meeting with Southland mayors about the next steps Ms Ardern said they had "committed to working together" after the shock closure of Tiwai smelter last week with the result or 2600 jobs losses.

The Government was also working on opportunities for Southland, which could include projects like aquaculture and data centres, bit the Tiwai announcement meant this work would be sped up. 

There would be a transition period, but she hinted that this could be longer than the 12 months previously indicated by the smelter.

That would depend on the outcome of negotiations between Rio Tinto and Meridian Energy.

Ms Ardern said she was determined for there to be "high wage and high skilled jobs" in Southland.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (centre) speaking to media in Invercargill today. Photo: Craig Baxter
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (centre) speaking to media in Invercargill today. Photo: Craig Baxter
The Prime Minister is being accompanied by Finance Minister Grant Robertson, Mr Jones, and Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods.

This morning, Great South hosted a business breakfast.

Ms Ardern did not talk to media on the way in. However, Mr Jones said it was "good news for Southland."

Yesterday, he announced funding totalling nearly $50 million for the region.

Asked what he hoped to get from meeting with Ms Ardern and government ministers today, Invercargill mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt said: "Let’s hope we get some concrete reality to the mix."

Sir Tim said he wanted a guarantee of support from Ms Ardern and still held out hope that Tiwai could be saved.

He said he heard from Tiwai general manager Stew Hamilton it had a "slither" of a chance the smelter could be kept open.

 

 

Comments

You can't feed your family opportunities - even 'huge' ones.

Shut it down Jacinda we don't need that smelter

Companies like Rio Tinto can't keep blackmailing the country.Who would know how much they really made or loss.They may employ people who pay tax but what company tax do they pay in this country. zit!!!!!!!!.

Forget about keeping the smelter open. Rio Tinto are closing 2 smelters in Oz as well as Tiwai, so put your energy into good viable business opportunities and demand that the Govt walk along with us

 

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