Battle to restore economy has only just begun; survival of the Tiwai Aluminium Smelter is the single most important factor: Mayor of Invercargill, NZ

New Zealand has claimed to be one of the nations who are COVID-19 free, whereas the whole world is in turmoil. The airlines had already started to fly again; schools are going to open by next week only.

Tim Shadbolt, Mayor of Invercargill said: “But we should never be complacent. The battle to restore our economy has only just begun. So far our farms, the smelter and the SIT are keeping us afloat.”

“However, one of our biggest earners of overseas funds, the tourist sector, has only just begun to face reality.”

“The council aims to operate as an energised, fun and innovative team so it’s my duty to be positive even though New Zealand’s small businesses must feel as though they’ve been run over by a ten-ton tank.”

He also said: “Despite the glitz and glamour of jets and the film industry, I still believe the survival of the Tiwai Smelter is the single most important factor regarding our recovery.”

Rio Tinto owned Tiwai smelter hold out that it didn’t want a grant or any form of subsidy. All it wanted to be a fair deal for transmission costs.

The value of aluminium on the global markets has shown a declining demand but the long-term value was positive. Alloys were ideal for cell phones and computer disks. Another unique feature of aluminium alloys is that they have a shape memory.

An alloy known as Nitinol is used for spectacle frames. If accidentally somebody stands on their glasses and buckles the frames, just a simple reheat can return to their original shape.

He concluded by saying: “When our government contributed $30 million to the smelter to offset transmission costs there was a storm of anger throughout New Zealand.”

“Southlanders were portrayed in the media as a bunch of greedy ruthless southern consumers who made a pact with a giant multi-national, so we could pillage electricity off our poor, innocent, caring and loving North Island cousins.”