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Environmental significance of Tiwai Point and surrounds

The Aluminium Smelter at Tiwai Point has been in operation since 1971. In the 1960s, Tiwai Point was chosen as the location for an aluminium smelter. Aluminium smelting requires a large and very reliable power source to continually supply electricity to reduction cells, and Tiwai Point’s proximity to the then proposed Manapouri Power Station made it an attractive location. In addition, Tiwai Point was close to the deep sea port of Bluff and a large pool of potential employees based in Invercargill.

There was little controversary around the siting of Tiwai Smelter at the time of construction from an environmental perspective. At that time the area was within the jurisdiction of the Southland County Council and the relevant planning legislation was the 1953 Town and Country Planning Act. It’s important to note that the aluminium smelter had been in operation for 20 years before New Zealand’s Resource Management Act (RMA) was passed in 1991.

The Tiwai Aluminium Smelter is located at Tiwai Point on the Tiwai Peninsula. Despite the location of a large industrial site, Tiwai Point lies adjacent to the internationally recognised Awarua wetland complex. In February 2008, New Zealand’s Department of Conservation was notified by the Ramsar Secretariat of its decision to approve an application to extend the Waituna Ramsar site from around 3,500 ha to around 20,000ha and to rename it the Awarua Wetland.Foveaux shag. Photo: WikipediaFoveaux shag. Photo: Wikipedia

The Awarua Wetland Ramsar site is now the largest protected wetland complex in New Zealand. The extension includes not only Waituna but also the Awarua Plains, the New River Estuary, Toetoes Harbour and Spit and the northern edge of Tiwai Peninsula. The 2000 hectares of land surrounding NZAS is part of New Zealand’s Conservation Estate managed by the Department of Conservation. NZAS leases Tiwai Peninsula from the Department of Conservation, part of which falls into the Awarua Wetland Ramsar site. Find out more about the Awarua Wetland and the rare and threatened birds, fish, lizards, invertebrates and plant communities that call it home.

Download the report

Preliminary Environmental Report - Tiwai - January 2021 (PDF, 11.41 MB)


[1] https://www.nzas.co.nz/pages/access-permit-to-tiwai-peninsula/

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      • Murihiku Southland Regional Energy Development Plan -Transpower and PowerNet -Calling for Feedback and Comments
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      • Preliminary Closure Study
      • Cultural Significance of Tiwai Point
      • Environmental significance of Tiwai Point and surrounds
      • Tiwai Point - a contaminated site
      • Key documents and further reading
      • Have your say
    • Te Ao Tūroa - Environment
      • Hokonui Rūnanga Kaupapa Taiao
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      • Have your say!
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Latest news

Nominations now open for Murihiku whanau to be a part of creating a new brand of identity for Green Energy Project

Murihiku Regeneration is coordinating the establishment of a new Cultural Identity Group to creating a new brand identity for the Southern Green Hydrogen Project. Nominations are now open for applications to be a part of this group. Southern Green Hydrogen is the name given to a hydrogen facility… Read more

© 2023 Murihiku Regeneration • Website by RS

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Meet the team
    • Structure and Context
    • Office of Upoko
    • Te Rūnaka o Awarua
    • Waihōpai Rūnaka Inc.
    • Ōraka Aparima Rūnaka
    • Hokonui Rūnanga
    • Our Partners
      • MSD Community Connection Service
    • Job vacancies
  • Events
    • Energy and Innovation Expo 2023
      • He Ao Hou - New Futures Murihiku 22 May
      • Live Streaming of Wānanga 23 and 24 May
      • Hosts and Key Speakers 23-24 May
      • Energy and Innovation presentations - 23 May
        • Opening Addresses
        • Global Session
        • Empowering partnerships: government's role in Aotearoa's energy transition
        • Climate Economics
        • Regional Infrastructure
        • Social regeneration and innovation
        • Regional Innovation
        • The importance of the Māori economy through this change
      • Energy and Innovation presentations - 24 May
        • Regional Leadership Panel
        • Regional Plans and Priorities
        • Southern Green Hydrogen
        • Tiwai Smelter Future
        • Southland Aquaculture
        • Regional Case Studies: Decarbonisation
        • Innovation and Bluff Re-imagining
        • Confirming Priorities: wrap-up and closing
    • Science and Innovation Wānanga 2021
  • Our Mahi
    • Te Ara Aukati Kore - Education, Training, and Capability
      • Anamata Māia: Brave, Bold & Confident Futures Service
        • Core Service Values
        • Our Kaimahi - Staff
      • Have your say!
    • Southern Ocean - Murihiku ki te Tonga
      • Subantarctic Islands
      • The Ross Sea Sector
      • Research and Monitoring
    • Green Energy
      • He Honoka Hauwai - German-NZ Green Hydrogen Centre
      • Clean Energy Workstream
        • Working Group - Meet the Team
        • Renewable Energy Strategy
        • Documents - Key Reading
        • Have your say
      • Hydrogen and Green Energy
      • Hydrogen and Climate Change
      • Bell Bay Hydrogen Cluster
      • Lake Onslow Hydro Scheme
      • Murihiku Southland Regional Energy Development Plan -Transpower and PowerNet -Calling for Feedback and Comments
    • Tiwai Future
      • Preliminary Closure Study
      • Cultural Significance of Tiwai Point
      • Environmental significance of Tiwai Point and surrounds
      • Tiwai Point - a contaminated site
      • Key documents and further reading
      • Have your say
    • Te Ao Tūroa - Environment
      • Hokonui Rūnanga Kaupapa Taiao
      • Te Tapu o Tāne Ltd
      • Climate change
      • Have your say
    • Building Sustainable and Resilient Communities
    • Regional System Leadership
      • Building leadership across the takiwā
    • Just Transition
      • Have your say!
    • Southern Green Hydrogen Project (SGH)
    • Energy Transition Plan
  • Latest News
  • Contact