The Tiwai Point smelter stack will be bright in the Southern night sky for the next 30 days to commemorate half a century of aluminium production.

New Zealand Aluminium Smelter Ltd begins its 50th anniversary celebrations tomorrow evening (Thursday 22 April) by lighting up the smelter chimney (commonly known as the ‘stack’), a prominent Southland landmark.

NZAS chief executive and general manager Stew Hamilton is looking forward to seeing the lights.

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“This is the first time we have ever lit up the stack and it is nice to be able to share this anniversary milestone with our people and Bluff residents. Celebrating 50 years as part of the Southland community is very special,” he said.

Bluff residents will get an excellent view of the stack, as will people driving to the smelter down Tiwai Road, with the south-west and north sides of the chimney to be illuminated.

The lights will be turned on at 7 pm tomorrow (Thursday 22 April).

The first shipment of alumina arrived on site on the vessel Shinyo Maru on 22 April 1971. 

The first reduction cells went into operation on 23 April 1971, with the first metal cast seven days later on 30 April 1971. 

The official opening of the plant was held in November that year.