A staff or management buy-out of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter does not appeal to some workers, who would rather focus on a just transition that addresses their own career ambitions and stage of life, E Tu union negotiator Joe Gallagher says.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is speaking at a “Join the Fight to Save Tiwai’’ public meeting at the Invercargill Workingmen’s Club on Friday at 1pm.

Mr Gallagher said if Mr Peters’ message was about saving Tiwai, “I reckon he will get a stacked hall’’.

But he hoped the meeting would focus on coming up with “a crystal-clear plan’’ to save the community and jobs, rather than just seeking election votes.

On Saturday, Mr Peters expressed his opinion in the New Zealand Herald that a worker or management buy-out is an option for the workers, saying they “deserved a future’’.

The Southland App today sought further comments from Mr Peters and New Zealand First list MP Mark Patterson about the Tiwai smelter closure but their responses were not available before publication.

Both politicians are members of the coalition Government and Mr Peter is the deputy Prime Minister.

However, his remarks are understood to have been made as the leader of the coalition partner, New Zealand First.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and several members of her Labour Party caucus visited Invercargill last week to talk to Southland leaders about impacts of the Tiwai closure.

Regional economic development minister Shane Jones, who is also a New Zealand First politician, and Mr Patterson were also in Invercargill to meet the Southland leaders.

Ms Ardern said last week her focus was working with the Southland leaders on helping the region through a transition period before the Tiwai smelter closes.

Up to 1000 people work at the smelter and it indirectly creates another 1600 jobs. 

Smelter owner Rio Tinto has signalled the site will close in August next year but negotiations are continuing between Rio Tinto and power company Meridian Energy.

Some hope a longer transition period of five years can be achieved. The closure could remove $406 million from the Southland economy and there are fears of a population exodus of workers and families.

The aluminium smelter workers hold a specialist skill set and many would have to retrain to work in other Southland industries.

“Some of the feedback I’ve had from the workers is that [a staff or management buy-out] would not be appealing to them. While I think it is an interesting concept, I don’t think it is sustainable. I think what the workers want is a plan... a just transition [to other opportunities],’’ Mr Gallagher said.

Mr Gallagher said a combination of short- and longer-term relief was required, allowing the smelter to continue operating while the viability of the smelter and other opportunities was investigated.

People were coming up with all sorts of great ideas to replace the smelter in the economy, but a longer-term vision of what that could be was needed, he said.

Some workers might be close to retirement and happy to accept that option, but younger workers might seek the chance to retrain in another industry, Mr Gallagher said.

People who had been working towards getting a job at the smelter also needed a chance to rethink their options, he said.

“A just transition allows people to explore all the different elements to it... A transition will take time,’’ he said.