Reality kicks in for Tiwai Point aluminium smelter employees

Thursday, 9 July 2020

Invercargill Mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt talks about the closure of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter.

Tim Talamahina expected the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter news, but still found himself reeling when it was actually delivered.

Rio Tinto announced on Thursday it would start planning to wind down operations for the eventual closure, of New Zealand's Aluminium Smelter (NZAS).

The potential closure was earmarked last year but the confirmation on Thursday morning still caught Talamahina and other workers at the Invercargill smelter off-guard.

The smelter is a family affair for Talamahina.

**READ MORE:

NZAS staff and family members, from left: Shane Sawkins, Clayton Talamahina, Iki Talamahina, and Tim Talamahina. (File photo)

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* Tiwai Point aluminium smelter closure: 'It's a real tragedy for Southland'

Tiwai Point aluminium smelter chief executive Stewart Hamilton discusses the closure of the smelter.

His father, Iki, has worked at Tiwai for close to 40 years, while Tim himself has worked there for 20 years. Tim’s brother Clayton also works at the smelter, as has brother-in-law Shane Sawkins.

“I thought I was prepared for it, but no not really. Reality kicked in and I thought, ‘Wow,’’ Talamahina said about Thursday’s news.

Talamahina acknowledged he and his family had been able to live comfortably through employment at the smelter.

“It has definitely given me a lifestyle, you get to buy those toys you’ve always wanted. The lifestyle is great.

Southland residents discuss their concerns about the closure of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter.

“You see other guys there that are living a good lifestyle as well.’’

Talamahina and many others at Tiwai now find themselves pondering the future.

“We’ve got to work through that now, everything is sort of up in the air. I guess you are going to have 1000 people looking for jobs now in such a small place. Who knows what is going to happen?”

The E tū union has called for a ‘’just transition’’ for workers in the wake of the announcement.

E tū negotiation specialist Joe Gallagher said the knock-on effect of the closure will be huge.

“This is a significant employer and this company is at the heart of its community. A closure will affect the entire supply chain, including other local suppliers,” he said.

“The smelter produces high-grade aluminium and quality jobs for New Zealanders. It doesn’t make sense that as soon as it can’t get energy any cheaper, it abdicates responsibility for its workers.”

Rio Tinto needed to think about the legacy it wanted to leave as a company, Gallagher said.

Gallagher said the Government needed to consider a similar approach to that used in Taranaki with the Taranaki 2050 Roadmap, to ensure a “just transition” takes place.

E-Type engineering site work manager Paul Danby, of Invercargill, said he was disappointed in the decision to close the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter.

“The Government should use the expertise, knowledge, and methodology that the Taranaki 2050 Roadmap partners have built in the region, but developing it at a much quicker pace for Southland with substantial investment early on.”

Gallagher said it had the opportunity, post-Covid-19, to show a way forward for a proper, fair and just transition, including enabling workers to retrain or redeploy.

Paul Danby’s business, E-Type engineering, is one of the many contractors who will also be affected by the closure of the smelter in Invercargill.

E-Type had nine employees attached to Tiwai and it would affect the company’s work drastically, Danby said.

Another worker said the closure announcement didn’t come as a shock but he still did not think it would close. An agreement could still be made, he said.