News

Strong Murihiku Hapū input and support for potential Southland Just Transition package

Photo Back row l-r: Rino Tirikatene (MP for Te Tai Tonga); Trinity McMahon (MSD); Dean Ford (MBIE); Terry Nicholas (Murihiku Regeneration); Richard Kyte (Thriving Southland); Clare Hadley (ICC). Front row l-r: Chami Abeysinghe (Great South); Neil McAra (Co-chair JT eOG); Aimee Kaio (Co-chair JT eOG); Hon Dr Megan Woods (Minister); Anna Huffstutler (E tū); Jackie Flutey (Community Trust South); Steph Voight (MSD); Liz Craig (Labour MP).

On Thursday 1 December at Te Rau Aroha Marae, Awarua Rūnaka hosted Murihiku Upoko, other Murihiku Rūnaka Leaders, Minister Megan Woods, Mayors, government officials, members of the Just Transtions Enduring Oversight Group (eOG) and other invited leaders to a presentation around a proposed Murihiku-Southland Just Transition plan and potential package for the region.

The event was opened by Tā Tipene O’Regan and closed by Michael Skerrett.

The overarching message was one of the region being aligned and prepared for the eventuality of a Tiwai closure, but also palnning for a future where the Tiwai Smelter remains open in the long-term and other new industries come into the region.

The package looks to build on the opportunites for major projects in clean/green energy, aquaculture, and provide business and community support around either of the two potential scenarios. These will be considered in the 2023 government budget processes.

Strong supporting messaging by the Mayoral Lead – Nicol Horrell (Environment Southland), and also reinforced by Mayor Ben Bell (Gore District) and Rob Scott (Southland District) provided confidence that the plan and proposed package could help prepare for either of the two potential sceanrios.

There has been very strong Murihiku Hapū representation in this programme, with Murihiku Regeneration leading the Clean Energy and Worker Transitions workstreams, and Enduring Oversight Group Co-chair Aimee Kaio (Awarua Rūnaka) leading the Aquaculture workstream for Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu.

The Just transtions Programme has had input from a range of Southland groups across seven workstreams.

“Our strong preference is that Rio Tinto keep the Smelter operational in the long term, having commiteed to us that they will clean up the toxic waste, apply approriate environmental protections and support potential future renewable energy industries to come into the region to provide jobs, economic opportunity and support all of our communities to prosper”, said Terry Nicholas - Murihiku Regeneration Director and Green Energy Lead.

“The recent announcement of Woodside and Mitsui as preferred developers in the Southern Green Hydorgen Project, and hard work undertaken by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu around aquaculture are two very positive steps. Equally, the work being led by Awarua Rūnaka on Tiwai remediation, and Hokonui through Murihiku Regeneration on green energy has the potential to ensure that this Just Transtions Programme is successful. I am excited for our future”, said Michael Skerrett - Murihiku Upoko.

The next steps in the programme will be for a follow up meeting with Ministers in February 2023 to ensure that identifed priorities and projects are progressing through the government budget processes for consideration in 2023.

Posted: 2 December 2022

Many hands make light work - ka pai Alliance!

Mā tini mā mano

Ka rapa te whai

Many hands make light work

Unity is strength

Riki Parata (Hokonui Rūnanga Kaiārihi Taiao Environmental Lead) receiving 20 kilos of hinu from Alliance Group Limited.

By Libby Young

Alliance Group Limited (Alliance) has kindly donated an initial 20 kilos of hinu (beef fat) to our Hokonui Biodiversity project. This donation, along with others, will be used as bait in our traps as part of our pest control activities. It is actions like this that will help us to restore the native flora and hopefully reintroduce the South Island Robin to the Hokonui Hills.

This is not the first time the Hokonui Rūnanga Kaupapa Taiao has partnered with Alliance. Their support also extends into our freshwater mahi as well. As part of their commitment to protect the biodiversity of the Mataura Mātaitai (New Zealand’s first freshwater reserve), Alliance enabled us to undertake a Kanakana (Lamprey) Monitoring Programme in both 2021 and 2022.

As illustrated above, Riki Parata is literally struggling to carry the weight of Alliance’s generosity, we continue to be astonished by the support that local groups and industry have shown us.

Posted: 30 November 2022

Meridian’s Southern Green Hydrogen Project selects Woodside Energy as preferred partner

Meridian, with the support of Ngāi Tahu, have selected Woodside Energy (Woodside) as the preferred partner to move forward to the development stage of the proposed Southern Green Hydrogen (SGH) project in New Zealand. A final investment decision will follow the development stage.Terry Nicholas, Murihiku Upoko and Murihiku Regeneration Director. Meg O’Neill, CEO Woodside Energy.

Woodside was selected after an extensive competitive bidding process based on its capability and experience in operations, process safety, and liquids marketing.

Meridian Chief Executive Neal Barclay said, “We’re very pleased to be partnering with Woodside which, like us, is focussed on progressing a world-class hydrogen and ammonia facility in Southland, New Zealand, that will provide significant benefits to the local community. In addition to its operational and marketing expertise, Woodside has demonstrated climate change ambitions, and as we are a 100 percent renewable energy company and committed to sustainability, that was a key focus for us in selecting a partner.”

Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (Mitsui) is also in discussions to join the project and develop the potential market for ammonia offtake, with the aim of creating a world-class collaboration that covers the full hydrogen and ammonia supply chain. Mitsui has 50 years of experience in the ammonia business, including the largest share of ammonia imports into Japan.

Subject to finalising commercial arrangements, Meridian, Woodside, and Mitsui will work towards commencing front-end engineering design for the project.

Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill said, “We are pleased to have been selected as the preferred partner for the proposed SGH project. Woodside brings the technical skill and operations experience to develop this project at pace to meet customer demand for hydrogen, which we expect to grow in the energy transition. We look forward to working with Meridian and Mitsui to potentially offer this important customer solution both domestically and globally.”

Mitsui Chief Operating Officer of Energy Solutions Business Unit Toru Iijima said, “We look forward to working closely with Meridian, Woodside and all the related important stakeholders to develop a large-scale hydrogen and ammonia export project with a view to contributing to Southland, New Zealand and the global market.”

The selection of Woodside followed a competitive process, during which Murihiku Regeneration, representing both Ngāi Tahu and the local rūnanga of Murihiku, were closely involved. Looking ahead, Meridian, Woodside, and Mitsui will actively work with Ngāi Tahu and the local Rūnanga to ensure the project aligns with their energy vision for the region and supports their principles under mana whenua.

“We believe a large-scale hydrogen and ammonia facility in Southland, focused on the export market, will accelerate the development of a domestic hydrogen economy and strengthen New Zealand’s platform to contributing to decarbonising our transport and industrial sectors,” Mr Barclay added.

“It will also create new opportunities in an emerging industry for the local community. We expect the facility will have the added benefit of being able to provide up to 40 percent of New Zealand’s dry year flexibility needs to the electricity sector.”

Ta Tipene O’Regan, Murihiku Upoko and Ngāi Tahu Leader, welcomed the announcement of Woodside as the preferred partner, looking forward to growing the Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and Murihiku Hapū relationship with Woodside. “Our interest in the project is more than just commercial. It extends to the long-term social and environmental sustainability of the rohe. Future developments show great promise for the region, but they must also meet the highest standards and deliver real value to the community,” he said.

Terry Nicholas, Murihiku Upoko and Murihiku Regeneration Director added: “This is an opportunity for Murihiku and the wider Southland region to develop a new, highly skilled energy economy. While it brings many benefits, there are significant education and training challenges to ensure our whanau are able to fully participate in this transition, and we need to accelerate the work we are already doing in that space to meet the project’s projected labour needs.”

The proposed project is targeting to produce 500,000 tonnes per year of ammonia utilising electrolysis from renewable power. Technical work on the facility is continuing in parallel with the design of the commercial structure for the project. Options for the supply of hydrogen and ammonia to the domestic market, as well as for the potential to export ammonia to Asia and Europe, will be assessed.

SGH originally consisted of Meridian and Contact. Contact has made the decision to no longer continue into the next phase of the project as a development partner, but has indicated an interest in continuing to support the project as a potential electricity supplier.

About Woodside

Woodside is a global energy company, proudly Australian with a spirit of innovation and determination. Woodside provides energy that the world needs to heat homes, keep lights on and support industry. The company aims to thrive through the global energy transition with a low-cost, lower-carbon, profitable, resilient, and diversified portfolio.

Woodside has a growing portfolio of carbon services (offsets, carbon capture and storage, carbon capture and utilisation), hydrogen, ammonia and renewable power opportunities in Australia and internationally. Our new energy opportunities include proposed hydrogen and ammonia projects H2Perth and H2TAS in Australia and a proposed hydrogen project H2OK in North America.

www.woodside.com

About Mitsui & Co

Mitsui & Co is one of the largest general trading companies in Japan and is part of the Mitsui Group. Mitsui has a broad business with a presence in Energy, Metals, Chemicals, Food/beverages, Real Estate, ICT, Finance, Machinery and Infrastructure. Mitsui has a large global presence with 129 offices spread throughout 63 countries/regions.

Mitsui is currently one of the largest ammonia traders in Japan and has taken a proactive approach to participating in and investing in the emerging hydrogen sector. Mitsui’s growing hydrogen business portfolio currently includes investment in: FirstElement Fuel, Hiringa Energy, HTEC and Hexagon composites.

www.mitsui.com

About Meridian Energy

As New Zealand’s largest 100% renewable energy generator, and as a retailer, Meridian has always walked hand in hand with the environment. Meridian is focused on sustainability, which is why the company has adopted the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Meridian is also listed as one of only three New Zealand companies on the Dow Jones Asia-Pacific Sustainability Index.

Meridian and its online subsidiary Powershop retail electricity to more than 376,000 connections – homes, farms and businesses throughout New Zealand. Meridian owns and operates seven hydro stations, six within the Waitaki Hydro Scheme plus the country’s largest – Manapōuri Power Station, and five wind farms in New Zealand.

www.meridian.co.nz

Posted: 29 November 2022

Murihiku Regeneration welcomes update from NZAS at their Invercargill community forum

Pictured L-R: Nicole Atherton (Rio Tinto Aluminium Closure Readiness General Manager), Michael Skerrett (Upoko, Murihiku Regeneration), Nobby Clark (Invercargill Mayor), Ivan Hodgetts (Murihiku Regeneration), Chris Blenkiron (NZAS General Manager and CE), Dion Williams (NZAS Community and Social Performance Manager).On Wednesday 23 November 2022, NZAS hosted another of their community forum series in Waihopai/Invercargill. We were heartened to note NZAS CEO Chris Blenkiron’s comments that they intend to continue to provide these forums as an opportunity to share smelter updates and engage with our community.

Topics covered included remediation, waste management, future of the smelter, procurement opportunities for 2023, and ongoing discussions regarding the smelter’s use of energy and its role in the national grid.

Chris also spoke of the importance of their developing relationship with Ngāi Tahu and the community generally.

The next community forum will be held at Te Rau Aroha, Bluff on Wednesday 30 November, 5.30pm onwards. We look forward to seeing whānau attend this event next week.

This is a great opportunity to voice your feedback and ask questions of NZAS team members.

Posted: 23 November 2022

Community welcome at New Zealand’s Aluminium Smelter forums

The New Zealand Aluminium Smelter (NZAS) is inviting the Murihiku/Southland community to join them for two community forums hosted in Bluff and Invercargill next week.

NZAS will share information about:

• Business performance and priorities, including waste management and the renewed focus on environmental performance
• Procurement and employment opportunities
• NZAS views on the potential pathway beyond 2024

This is a great opportunity to voice your feedback and ask questions of NZAS team members.

Event details

Dates:

Tuesday 22 November - Te Rau Aroha Marae, Bluff

Wednesday 23 November - Transport World, Invercargill

Time: 5.30 - 7.30 pm

Who’s invited? All welcome

For catering purposes please register in advance by emailing: [Enable JavaScript to view protected content]

Posted: 17 November 2022