We'd have to build a lot (billions) of new distribution infrastructure to get the Manapouri power to Auckland.
There are a lot of ideas circulating about what to do with the Tiwai plant, including setting up a Tesla factory (it has a deep water port handy). There just happens to be a source of the purest silicon sand in the world nearby, so one intriguing option is to set up solar panel production, which given the hydro power supply would have very high sustainability credentials.
There are a lot of ideas circulating about what to do with the Tiwai plant, including setting up a Tesla factory (it has a deep water port handy). There just happens to be a source of the purest silicon sand in the world nearby, so one intriguing option is to set up solar panel production, which given the hydro power supply would have very high sustainability credentials.