News

Just Transitions Funding for Southland

The Government has expanded its Just Transition Support for Communities Facing Transitions to $13.9m over the next four years.

In the lead up to the Budget 2021 announcement associate finance minister Megan Woods said the budget will include money to help prepare Southland for life after the aluminum smelter at Tiwai Point.

This initiative implements the Government’s manifesto commitment to increase support for communities facing transitions, enabling them to understand, plan and manage their transitions and build a productive, sustainable, inclusive and resilient future. It includes funding to empower community partners to lead through change and to accelerate just transition initiatives.

Murihiku Regeneration will be working with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), rūnanga, and regional stakeholders on a master planning process to determine priorities for the future.

Posted: 20 May 2021

Green Energy Presentation - Parliament Buildings

Tā Tipene O’Regan met with Sir Jim Bolger, Hon Megan Woods and Contact Energy CEO Mike Fuge, among others, at Parliament Buildings on 18 May 2021 to attend a green energy presentation.Sir Jim Bolger, Tā Tipene O’Regan, Hon Megan Woods and Mike Fuge (Contact Energy CEO) at Parliament Buildings yesterday.

Tā Tipene is looking at green energy and green hydrogen as a renewable opportunity that will sit at the heart of our Murihiku Regeneration kaupapa.

Posted: 19 May 2021

Rio Tinto Boss Visit to Te Rau Aroha Marae

Mr Ivan Vella, the new CEO of Rio Tinto Aluminium has visited and been welcomed onto Te Rau Aroha Marae today to discuss the proposed closure of the Aluminium Smelter and how the company wish to work with Murihiku whānui to deal with remediation issues as a part of their closure process.

Ivan Vella is in transit from Australia to his new post based in Montreal, Canada. He is also meeting with local Mayors and Central Government on 05 and 06 May.

Tā Tipene O’Regan, who led the Hui, confirmed that he was pleased he has agreed to meet with Iwi beforehand and welcomed the initial discussion. He noted that there is more work to be done before we have a plan that we will be comfortable with.

Posted: 3 May 2021

Science and Innovation Wananga

The Office of Upoko is calling a science, research and innovation wananga. It is expected the wananga will be held by in June or July 2021, with dates to be confirmed.

The Science and Innovation Wananga will bring together Murihiku Rūnanga scientists, PhD students and researchers to look at opportunities, issues and priorities for Murihiku.

Murihiku Rūnanga boast many clever and accomplished individuals, who have great wisdom to share. By bringing these minds together and sharing ideas, we will be able to chart a path forward, that reflects our shared wisdom and goals, benefiting our rangatahi for years to come.

Contact us to find out more.

Posted: 27 April 2021

Mataura Dross Removal Making Good Progress

A visit to the Mataura Paper Mill by Terry Nicholas (Hokonui Rūnanga Representative/Office of Upoko) and Shaun Lewis (Director of Waste and Resource Efficiency, Ministry for theGraffiti on the old paper mill, Mataura. Photo: Dianne Manson/Getty Images. Environment) on Friday 16 April, confirmed good progress being made to remove 8000 tonnes of aluminium ouvea premix/dross from the flood prone site. It will be consolidated back to Tiwai Point with other hazardous materials.

The deal to move the material was supported through the Office of Upoko’s involvement in closure negotiations from November 2020 – February 2021 with the Crown and Rio Tinto.

Years of community advocacy and then Environment Court oversight following legal action brought by the Environmental Defence Society helped to broker a deal to ensure the materials were finally removed.

Terry Nicholas commended the pressure placed on New Zealand Aluminium Smelter and local and central government to take action to remove this dangerous material back to where it originated.

“This is only a temporary solution. More work needs to be done to deal with the materials that are kept in landfill at the Tiwai site”.

Posted: 16 April 2021