The workers at Tiwai Smelter in Southland will finally have an answer on their future later today after months of limbo and speculation.
The Rio Tinto-owned aluminium plant employs 800 full-time workers, but is responsible for thousands more jobs in the region, injecting more than half-a-billion dollars into the local economy each year.
Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt this morning joined Paul Henry to discuss how he is optimistic about the plant staying open.
Watch the video for the full interview.