Tiwai Point
Template:Use New Zealand English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Location map
Tiwai Point lies at the entrance to Bluff Harbour on the southern coast of the South Island of New Zealand. A spit which extends from the western end of the Awarua Plain, it lies between Awarua Bay to the north and Foveaux Strait to the south. It is known for the Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter, one of the largest industrial facilities in New Zealand.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
DemographicsEdit
Tiwai Point is part of the Woodend-Greenhills statistical area.<ref>Template:NZ census place summary 2018</ref>
Tiwai Rocks Important Bird AreaEdit
The rocks at the tip of Tiwai Point have been identified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International because they are home to a breeding colony of Foveaux shags.<ref>BirdLife International. (2012). Important Bird Areas factsheet: Tiwai Rocks. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 5 February 2012.</ref>
Foveaux looper mothEdit
Tiwai Point is one of the two remaining locations where the critically endangered Foveaux looper moth lives.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite journal</ref> A. frivola is at high risk of extinction, and has already disappeared from one of its three known localities.<ref name=":7">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Its main population exists on an area at Tiwai Point of less than 25 m2 of coastal vegetation.
Archaeological siteEdit
In 1968 archaeological excavations were carried out before construction of the Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref> Led by Stuart Park the excavation team came from the Otago Anthropological Society, the University of Otago Anthropology Department, the Southland Museum and Comalco.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /> The site revealed Māori pre-European middens and evidence of extensive adze and tool manufacturing.<ref name=":0" /><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Eleven tonnes of artefacts and material were retrieved from the 14th century site including adzes, hammer-stones and sinkers made from local argillite.<ref name=":2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Causeway accidentEdit
In 1980, a vehicle with 10 people failed to take a turn on the Tiwai Point causeway, crashing through a barrier and falling into the water. Seven people died, including five who were never recovered.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>