An aim to diversify the Southland economy

Despite plans for closure, the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter in Southland will remain open until at least the end of 2024.

This has been enabled by an agreement between Rio Tinto, the smelter's owner, and Meridian Energy.

However, boss of the development agency Great South, Graham Budd, says his group is still working to establish new opportunities for the region.

He says ideally these alternatives, such as a data centre, will sit alongside a smelter.