NZAS is New Zealand’s only aluminium smelter at Tiwai Point in Southland, owned and operated by Rio Tinto. It’s nationally significant as an exporter and user of electricity.
Our Work
The challenge
Over its 54-year history NZAS has faced reputational challenges around environmental impact, power deals and political friction.
Despite its pivotal role inside New Zealand’s energy system, the smelter’s wider contribution to NZ Inc has not always been well understood. In 2022 the newly appointed CEO brought new energy and openness to his role with clear intentions to make change. He needed help delivering that message to nationwide stakeholders.
How we helped
The new CEO wanted to get the Tiwai story to a wider audience and engaged GRC Partners to help connect with key stakeholders in Auckland and build awareness of the important role NZAS plays and the changes being made to give the smelter a long-term future and a renewed social licence.
NZAS had forged enduring partnerships, especially with local iwi Ngāi Tahu, which saw the two collaborating in a meaningful way to benefit the wider community.
We secured coverage across major media outlets, showcasing the smelter’s support for community development, environmental and sustainability goals, building its diversity, equity and inclusion programme and committment to local iwi and Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi).
We facilitated engagement with major Auckland stakeholders and organised two keynote speeches delivered by the CEO in Auckland in 2022 and 2024.
What we achieved
We paved the way for the CEO to build meaningful relationships with Auckland-based audiences, including media and business leaders.
When the smelter signed its 20-year long energy deal with generators in May 2024, its long-term future was secured and put its social licence on a much firmer footing.
GRC Partners helped to create an ambitious and systematic approach to entering awards that highlighted the smelter’s achievements, partnerships and people.
In 2025, before finishing his role as CEO, Chris Blenkiron won the prestigious Robert Walters Large Business Leadership Award.
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