New Zealand First has made keeping the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter open a bottom line for any future government negotiations. Today was Peters' second trip to the deep south to meet Tiwai Point workers and promise them a future at the smelter. In July, smelter part owner Rio Tinto announced production would end there in August 2021, putting more than 2500 jobs on the line. “Well Rio Tinto can’t just leave this place. Both parties have made their own commitments to Tiwai Point, but with an eventual outcome that the smelter will close.

Source: Otago Daily Times September 09, 2020 00:05 UTC