New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says his party is keen to keep Southland's Tiwai Point smelter open if his party is voted in at this year's election. Mr Peters, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, made the comments at the Invercargill Working Men’s Club in Southland this afternoon. He said New Zealand First would ensure a 20-year electricity transmission cost agreement to incentivise the Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter to stay open if the party is voted in on September 19. NZ First MP Mark Patterson said for 50 years Southland had been “turning water into money” through the smelter. “If we don’t win and restore honesty and common sense to this issue, we’ll have disastrous affects here and right across NZ...

Source: Otago Daily Times July 24, 2020 01:30 UTC