Meridian, Contact invest $10m to accelerate smelter options

Meridian, Contact invest $10m to accelerate smelter options
Gavin Evans
Contact Energy and Meridian Energy have committed $10 million to enable upgrade work on the national grid in the lower South Island to reduce the impact of any reduction in production at the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter.The two companies are the biggest generators on the South Island and are the most exposed if the smelter, the country’s biggest electricity consumer, were to stop production. At present, there isn’t enough capacity on the national grid to get the surplus electricity that would come out of Southland and through the high-voltage...

More Infrastructure

‘Bluewater backbone’: Lyttelton, Auckland ports plan $1b+ of upgrades
Policy

‘Bluewater backbone’: Lyttelton, Auckland ports plan $1b+ of upgrades

Two of the biggest NZ ports are raising prices as they plan major investments.

Cost of Ōtaki to north of Levin highway nears $2b
Infrastructure

Cost of Ōtaki to north of Levin highway nears $2b

In 2020, the lower North Island expressway was costed at just $817m.

Oliver Lewis 01 Jul 2025
The keys to unlocking Northport's land value
Infrastructure

The keys to unlocking Northport's land value

MMH's land is valued at five times less than its next-door neighbour, Channel.

Ian Llewellyn 30 Jun 2025
Food scrap U-turn chills waste sector investment
Infrastructure

Food scrap U-turn chills waste sector investment

The Government’s backtrack on the food waste mandate undermines investor confidence.

Cécile Meier 30 Jun 2025