The current recession has brought an unexpected bonus for workers at the aluminium smelter near Bluff.
Things have been slow at Tiwai Point since a broken transformer shut down one of the plant's three potlines.
Demand for aluminium has also fallen with prices plunging by more than 60 percent in the last six months.
But rather than consider redundancies, bosses at the smelter asked staff if anyone would work reduced hours or take unpaid leave in an effort to avoid permanent job cuts.
To their surprise they have been inundated with people keen to take up the offer of more free time.
"Our staff are very happy about what we've proposing," says manager Paul Hemburrow. "They see it as a good way to prevent other more drastic measures, so I think people are generally very positive, very supportive."
Claire Falck and her husband are among those who volunteered to work fewer hours to spend more time with their 15-month-old son.
"We're both going to reduce to nine day fortnights and work alternate weeks, where we spend a day with our child," Mrs Falck says.
The initial target was to save the equivalent of 20 full time salaries, but the initiative has been so well received by staff that final savings could be more than double that.
There have been questions over the long term future of the ageing plant, but locals believe this sends a positive message.
"I think first of all it's sending a very good signal that they have got a lot of confidence in the future, they've got confidence in their markets," says Richard Hay from the Southland Chamber of Commerce.
And the solution is also being welcomed by the Government.
"I think it's creative and that's what we're looking for from both employers and employees, any sort of creative and innovative solutions that they think they can come up with," says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.
Unions are also supporting the idea if it means keeping workers in jobs.
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