New Zealand Aluminium Smelters Limited

Operation overview

New Zealand Aluminium Smelters Limited (NZAS) is New Zealand's only aluminium smelter and is located on Tiwai Peninsula, across the harbour from Bluff in the province of Southland. 

NZAS is 79.36 per cent owned by Rio Tinto Alcan and 20.64 per cent owned by Japan's Sumitomo Chemical Company.  NZAS is a tolling plant, producing primary aluminium in the form of ingot, billet, and rolling block. The majority of the plant's alumina is supplied from the Yarwun and Queensland Alumina refineries at Gladstone in Queensland, Australia. Around 90 per cent of the aluminium produced at NZAS is exported.

In the 1960s, Tiwai Point was chosen as the location for an aluminium smelter for a number of reasons. Aluminium smelting requires a large and very reliable power source to continually supply electricity to reduction cells, and Tiwai Point's proximity to the then proposed Manapouri Power Station made it an attractive location. In addition, Tiwai Point was close to the deep sea port of Bluff and the well established infrastructure of the City of Invercargill. The smelter commenced operations in 1971. 

NZAS contributes $506 million to the Southland economy (13.5 per cent of Southland's GDP), 2,400 full time equivalent jobs and $1,700 million in Southland regional sales. Export revenue is around $1 billion each year.

Community support

Donation to Christchurch Earthquake Appeal
A 7.1 magnitude earthquake devastated the province of Canterbury in September, causing significant damage to homes and businesses.
In response to the earthquake NZAS donated $250,000 to the Christchurch Earthquake Appeal. 

NZAS employees were also given the opportunity to contribute by making a personal contribution to the appeal through payroll deductions.

Sunscreen Project
NZAS reached two significant safety milestones in 2010 - achieving record safe days, as well as surpassing 1 million hours safe on the NZAS site. To celebrate this milestone locally, the smelter provided sunscreen and wall-mounted stands for every classroom in all 32 Invercargill and Bluff primary schools.  Each school also received a number of additional bottles of sunscreen.

NZAS has worked with the Cancer Society to recommend the schools consider becoming Sunsmart accredited. In addition to the community donation, all NZAS employees and contractors were given half a day of annual leave to celebrate. This initiative reflects the smelter's vision of 'zero harm by choice' and has occurred just in time for summer.

Kakapo Recovery Partnership
NZAS' most significant partnership is 'Kakapo Recovery' - a partnership between the Department of Conservation (DOC), Forest & Bird and Rio Tinto Alcan/NZAS. The programme aims to protect the critically endangered kakapo, of which only 122 remain in existence - all in New Zealand. Rio Tinto Alcan has provided over $3.75 million to Kakapo Recovery since 1990. 

In 2004, NZAS partnered with DOC to give employees the opportunity to provide practical assistance on the kakapo inhabited islands of Whenua Hou (Codfish Island) and Anchor Island.  Duties undertaken include supplementary feeding and nest minding for kakapo, and general repairs and maintenance on the islands.For further information on Kakapo Recovery, please visit: www.kakaporecovery.org.nz and read our Kakapo Recovery brochure.

Southland Girls' High School Educational Partnership
The partnership between Southland Girls' High School (SGHS) and NZAS is designed to encourage female students to pursue careers within the engineering and science fields.NZAS hosted four SGHS students in 2008 as part of the pilot education partnership.  The pilot was such a huge success that it was continued in 2009 and 2010.

The first two days of the girls' seven day placement is spent undertaking inductions on site, spending time with a number of female employees to gain career advice, and participating on a plant tour.  Following the induction, the students then spend the next week working on their chosen projects including gathering, testing and analysing data.  At the end of the project week they present their project findings.

NZAS Southland Science & Technology Fair
NZAS has been the major sponsor of the annual NZAS Southland Science & Technology Fair since 2003.  The smelter not only provides sponsorship, but also provides a number of judges, administration support and an NZAS employee is on the committee.

Students ranging from years 5 to 13 are required to investigate a topic of their choice using a scientific method of hypothesis, method, test and conclusions.  For further information, please visit: http://www.southlandsciencefair.co.nz/.

Kiwi Can
Kiwi Can is a programme run by the Foundation for Youth Development, which aims to equip young Southlanders with a sense of self-worth and self-confidence, valuable life skills, an ability to take responsibility for their actions and a 'can-do' attitude to life. NZAS has been a proud supporter of Kiwi Can since the programme first commenced in Southland in 2004. 

Kiwi Can operates in seven local schools - Bluff Community, Halfmoon Bay Primary, Fernworth Primary, New River Primary, Ascot Community, Mataura Primary and Invercargill Middle. For further information, please visit: http://www.kiwican.org.nz/.

Coastguard Bluff
NZAS has been the naming sponsor of the Coastguard Bluff rescue vessel ('NZAS Rescue') since 2004.  Coastguard volunteers concentrate on regular patrols at weekends to enable them to be on hand for the increasing number of recreational boat users in the area. For further information, please visit:  www.coastguardsouth.org.nz/units/bluff/.

Community Assistance Programme
NZAS makes funds available for various community purposes through its Community Assistance Programme.  The criteria covers applications from non-profit organisations working locally (Invercargill and Bluff only) in the areas of health, safety, welfare, education and environment.  Information can be obtained by phoning 218-5440.

Cultural Heritage
NZAS has identified 27 cultural heritage sites located on land owned and managed by the smelter.  They include European burials and structures, as well as Maori sites such as middens/ovens, burials and an adze workshop.  Wahi tapu, wahi taoka and mahinga kai are also present on Tiwai Peninsula.  A Cultural Heritage Management System Plan is in place.

Operation data

Contact details

Phone:  + 64 3 218-5999
Postal address:  NZAS, Private Bag 90110, Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand

Site tours

Tours are conducted up to two times per week (week days only).  Numbers are limited and bookings are essential.  Visitors must be aged 12 and over.  Please phone 218-5889 for bookings.

Helpful documents

How Aluminium is Made
Economic and Social Impacts of NZAS on the Southland Economy
NZAS Sustainable development report 2010