Former Tiwai Point Smelter's general manager's new challenge no picnic

As New Zealand Aluminium Smelters general manager Ryan Cavanagh prepares to leave his post this month, he tells Collette Devlin he is not jumping ship from the Tiwai Pt smelter.

The rumour that the New Zealand Aluminium Smelters general manager was jumping a sinking ship have been swirling since the announcement of Mr Cavanagh's departure last month.

Mr Cavanagh, who has has been the company's general manager since 2009, is leaving to take up the role of general manager at Pacific Aluminium's Gove bauxite mine and alumina refinery in Australia's Northern Territory, at the start of next month.

He has been addressing the "jumping ship" rumour at various staff briefings at the smelter but says it will probably never be completely extinguished.

"At the end of the day, I can look back at my time here and I know the reasons why I am leaving. I have done everything I can for this plant to position it in the best place I can get it to. I could not leave for an ulterior motive," he said.

There were decisions still to be made about the smelter that were "way above" his head at the highest levels of Rio Tinto, Meridian and the Government, he said.

The discussion would continue in his absence but he was comforted that the NZ Aluminium Smelters team he was leaving behind was focused on getting a fair and reasonable deal for the smelter.

Acting general manager Stewart Hamilton would do a fantastic job, he said.

Leaving the Tiwai Pt smelter was the hardest decision he ever made and leaving before a power deal was without question the hardest part, he said.

"I poured my heart and soul into NZAS."

He was always thinking about where to next in his career because the role of a general manager usually lasted between two and five years and he had expected to leave sooner.

"But then the power stuff kicked off and I knew I wouldn't leave," he said.

He had thrown his hat in the ring for the Gove job about 15 months beforehand after a chat with his wife. She was willing to move to a remote location to further her husband's career before the children were older and they found a place to put down roots.

"The job came as a complete surprise, I didn't think it would be so soon . . . it ticked all the boxes and does not come up very often."

Serious family issues in the United Kingdom had forced his predecessor at Gove to leave.

Mr Cavanagh is relocating with his pregnant wife and two children to Nhulunbuy, one of the most isolated towns in Australia.

It was a 15-hour drive from the nearest city, which was Darwin. "With no friends, no support network and a new baby, it will be challenging," he said.