News

Te Rūnaka o Awarua and Murihiku Regeneration supports Tiwai future

Te Rūnaka o Awarua and Murihiku Regeneration welcomes the announcement that NZAS has secured a 20-year electricity deal enabling the Tiwai Aluminium Smelter to continue operating.

Awarua Upoko, Tā Tipene O’Regan, welcomed the news which provides certainty to the local community, and supports New Zealand’s contribution to a low carbon future.

“Since we entered into an MOU with Rio Tinto Aluminium in 2022, Awarua has been leading the partnership on behalf of Murihiku Rūnaka and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and actively engaging with NZAS on environmental remediation, cultural considerations, and future intentions. We look forward to continuing this important work with NZAS and Rio Tinto.”

“The demand response capacity Tiwai will now provide will be invaluable as New Zealand’s energy demand, and climate change, put more demand on the national grid. Ensuring stable electricity supply while reducing the need for coal-based energy is critical to New Zealand’s emission reduction efforts.”

NZAS has secured energy supply from Meridian Energy, Contact Energy and Mercury until at least 2044, giving certainty to employees and supporting New Zealand’s contribution to a low carbon future.

The 2022 agreement between Murihiku Rūnaka and Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu with the New Zealand Aluminium Smelters Limited (NZAS) and Rio Tinto Aluminium Limited committed to jointly restoring Tiwai’s natural environment and securing the smelter’s future beyond December 2024. All parties agreed to work together on plans to remove waste, enhance environmental monitoring, and remediate Tiwai Point, which are key priorities for mana whenua, NZAS and Rio Tinto, and of benefit to all Southlanders and indeed Aotearoa New Zealand as a whole.

Murihiku Rūnaka hold mana whenua and mana moana over the region and therefore have kaitiaki responsibilities over Tiwai and its waters. Murihiku Rūnaka is comprised of four Papatipu Rūnanga: Te Rūnaka o Awarua, Waihōpai Rūnaka, Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka and Hokonui Rūnanga. Te Rūnaka o Awarua is leading the partnership on behalf of Murihiku Rūnaka and will actively engage with NZAS and all parties around remediation, cultural considerations, and future intentions. Upoko o Te Rūnaka o Awarua Tā Tipene O’Regan has advocated for this partnership and is pleased to reach today’s milestone.

“I believed there was a long-term future for the smelter, which is so vital to our region and nation. Securing that for at least another two decades gives us all the best chance of environmental remediation that is world-class and mana-whenua informed.”

“It is important to note that while the remediation issue is led by Te Rūnaka o Awarua, it is also supported by other Rūnaka within Murihiku,” he said.

The agreement is a commitment by the iwi to share mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) and kōrero tuku iho (history and traditions) relative to Tiwai to support Rio Tinto to responsibly manage the environment as the future of the smelter is determined.

All parties believe the region now has a strong future upon which emerging industries, technologies and renewable energy sources can bring new jobs and a wide range of economic benefits.

For more information

Media release Energy Deal 1 & Energy Deal 2

RNZ - Tiwai certainty welcome, but concerns about $2 billion subsidy

RNZ - Tiwai Point aluminium smelter to stay open until 2044

SCOOP - Tiwai Deal A Great Relief For Workers And Southland Community

Posted: 5 June 2024

Tiwai smelter to stay open in 20-year deal

The aluminium smelter at Tiwai in Southland has secured energy supply from three generators until at least 2044, giving certainty to employees and the local community, and supporting A portfolio of contracts with Meridian Energy, Contact Energy and Mercury Energy will provide a volume of 572 MW required to run the three potlines at the smelter.New Zealand’s contribution to a low carbon future.

Meridian Energy, Contact Energy and Mercury have concluded deals to provide price certainty for the smelter with the 572 Megawatts (MW) it needs to keep producing high purity aluminium for global export and domestic supply.

“With these agreements concluded, the uncertainty for our hard-working team members and Southland is now over, and we can get on with producing the aluminium New Zealand and the world needs for its energy transition,” said NZAS Chief Executive Chris Blenkiron.

Today’s announcement marked the end of complex negotiations spanning over 18 months.

“It has been a long process to get to today’s announcement, but worth the effort to secure a long-term future for New Zealand’s smelter and the many benefits associated with this,” Mr Blenkiron said.

“We have been deliberate and taken our time, to ensure we see a new, long term and sustainable future for the smelter, and give that certainty to our employees, Southland, and New Zealand,” he said.

Key elements of the deal are:

• Twenty-year power arrangements through three energy generators, replacing the single contract with Meridian Energy.
• A portfolio of contracts with Meridian Energy, Contact Energy and Mercury Energy will provide a volume of 572 MW required to run the three potlines at the smelter.
• Separate contracts with Meridian and Contact will enable up to 185 MW of dry year demand response to be made available, to ensure the smelter plays its part to keep the lights on when New Zealand needs it most. Read: Tiwai becomes New Zealand’s largest battery and helps to keep the lights on.
• Environmental remediation commitment and programme continues.
• The new deals look certain to help underpin development of further renewable energy projects.

Mr Blenkiron said the negotiations had been carried out in a spirit of openness, with all parties focused on the sustainable future of one of the country’s largest export earners, along with the smelter’s ability to act as a battery for the New Zealand energy system.

“This is a significant new chapter in the history of New Zealand’s smelter, and for Murihiku/Southland, and I want to thank everyone, from NZAS, Rio Tinto, our energy partners, Ngāi Tahu, the Southland community and our employees, for getting us here today,” Mr Blenkiron said.

Posted: 31 May 2024

A Call to Action to Protect Te Moana-tāpokopoko-a-Tāwhaki

Between Aotearoa New Zealand and Antarctica lies Te Moana-tāpokopoko-a-Tāwhaki, the Great Southern Ocean. It includes the Subantarctic Islands, the Ross Sea, and the World’s largest Marine Protected Area. But we urgently need international scientific cooperation that can support long-term protection of the region. Narrated by Tā Tipene O’Regan himself, this video is a call to action for our our national and international partners to work together in a Ross Sea Alliance to save one of the last wild places left to the Earth. Our vision for the Ross Sea Alliance is outlined in a recent paper we presented to the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) in July 2024.

The video was made to coincide with a visit by the German Foreign Minister to New Zealand and the signing of a new cooperation agreement in Antarctic research. Germany is one of six nations that maintain Antarctic stations in the Ross Sea region, the others being New Zealand, the USA, Italy, South Korea, and China.

The film, featuring wildlife, stunning vistas and Rewi Davis’s visit to the Scott Base Pou Whenua, was produced by Anthony ‘Antz’ Powell together with Regina Eisert and Colin Aitchison (SkyWorks) as part of the Murihiku ki Te Tonga programme of Murihiku Regeneration. We gratefully acknowledge Boxfish Research Ltd. and in particular our partner Heritage Expeditions. We also thank Antarctica NZ, the US Antarctic Programme, the Department of Conservation, the Ministry of Primary Industries and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Posted: 6 May 2024

Murihiku Regeneration welcomes award winning French Chef - Sonia Bichet to New Zealand - A special experience in Bluff

Murihiku Regeneration welcomed Sonia Bichet, who was named France’s best craftsman (“Meilleure Ouvrière de France” – MOF) in 2023, to the region on Saturday 4 May, where she kicked off her New Zealand leg of her global tour. Sonia’s world tour project, entitled “20,000 places on the seas”, has a clear objective: to promote French craftsmanship around seafood products internationally.

Hosted by Murihiku Regeneration Portfolio Director and Hokonui Upoko – Terry Nicholas, Sonia is spending three days in the Southland region to better understand the people, followed by four days in Queenstown before heading to Nelson and Wellington.

Ngāi Tahu, the Southland region, and Murihiku Regeneration were seen as a ‘must visit’ destination because of the importance and connections of people, place, the sea, and also the value of strong future international partnerships.

Sonia is visiting New Zealand from 4-23 May, before heading to Japan for the final visit of her global adventure.

On Saturday, Sonia visited innovative aquaculture projects in Bluff and was hosted by Oyster Cove, where she was able to share her superb culinary skills with the assembled guests at a hosted event.

“We have been really happy to host Sonia on this part of her global tour. We want her to experience our hospitality, the strong connection our community and people have to the sea, and the ability to provide high quality seafood produce, and a place for culinary excellence. We hope she takes these experiences and memories back to France as she further develops her career as a world-class Chef.”

We would also like to thank Oyster Cove-Bluff, Ngai Tahu Seafood, and the community for supporting this visit, “ says Terry Nicholas.

“I had an amazing first day, thank you so much for this experience and opportunity,” confirmed Sonia Bichet on her first day in the region.

Sonia has already visited United Kingdom, Iceland, the United States, Canada, the French West Indies, Peru, Costa Rica, and Australia.

For those interested, you will find here attached a presentation of her world tour on her Instagram account. Sonia has made a very nice wrap up video (in French) and also from her Icelandic visit.

Hosted by Terry Nicholas, where Cyril Gilroy chairman of Waihōpai Runanga provided Sonia with a cultural experience, and Maria Pera MR cultural advisor arranged the visit to Oyster Cove restaurant, Stirling Pt at Bluff to provide distinguished guests with an international seafood experience.

Posted: 5 May 2024

Positive First Meeting with new Chair of Antarctic NZ around future collaboration

Today Murihiku Upoko - Ta Tipene O’Regan and Terry Nicholas met with the new Chair of Antarctic NZ, Leon Grice, and incoming Board Member Heather Simpson. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Murihiku ki te Tonga Programme, recent polar expeditions, and related partnership opportunities.

“It was an opportunity for us to share our view that the Murihiku ki te Tonga Programme is a legitimate Iwi-led oceans research programme, linking to our treaty settlement zone of marine interest, and the need for us to work collaboratively in the national interest,” outlined Ta Tipene O’Regan, Upoko o Awarua Rūnaka.

‘It is an opportunity for us to develop science and innovation capabilities for our successive generations and for our rights and interests in this important region to be recognised and acknowledged,” said Terry Nicholas, Upoko o Hokonui Rūnanga.

The pair were hosted by Murihiku Upoko at Te Whare o Te Waipounamu and among the topics discussed was the need to build a collaborative approach between Murihiku Regeneration and Antarctic NZ. Another key discussion topic was the need to develop an Oceans and related science strategy that connects the Antarctic, with the Ross Sea Marine Protected Area, into the NZ Exclusive Economic Zone. The final area of the discussion focused around international partnerships that created opportunities in the science and innovation space.

“We shared details around our recent MKTT expeditions, also our recently submitted Murihiku ki te Tonga Science Endeavour Bid, which focuses on the Ocean connecting our takiwa to Antarctica. This is an area of strategic significance to both parties”, concluded Ta Tipene O’Regan.

The Murihiku ki te Tonga 2024 Endeavour proposal plans to take an integrated matauranga science ecosystem approach. This relates to the area that includes the Ngai Tahu maritime zone of interest, including Fiordland, Rakiura, the NZ Subantarctic Islands, and also the Ross Sea MPA and also Antarctica itself. As a result of the meeting, further explanation and understanding of the MKTT work programme, and how it might relate to ANZ priorities and future cooperation was agreed.

“We really appreciated the opportunity to meet with Ta Tipene and Terry Nicholas, to understand a Ngai Tahu perspective, and discuss how we might work together in the future. I look forward to furthering this opportunity”, said Leon Grice at the conclusion of the meeting.

Murihiku Upoko will be following up this first meeting, with a letter to the ANZ Chair to formalise the requests and action points discussed in this first meeting.

“It really was a very useful and positive first meeting”, said Ta Tipene at the close of the Hui.

Posted: 26 March 2024