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

Ministry of Transport shelves key freight study update
Infrastructure

Ministry of Transport shelves key freight study update

‘Seven years is a long time between drinks in terms of a study.’

Oliver Lewis 07 Jul 2025
Port of Tauranga ‘reluctantly’ doubles MetroPort rail fees
Primary Sector

Port of Tauranga ‘reluctantly’ doubles MetroPort rail fees

The port says it's working with KiwiRail on 'long-term arrangements'. 

Oliver Lewis 04 Jul 2025
‘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.

Oliver Lewis 02 Jul 2025