Gap in production sees 17 jobs cut at mine

Waihı¯’s largest employer OceanaGold believe they will be able to ‘‘come back even stronger’’ following a production gap that has cost 17 staff their jobs.

OceanaGold Waihı¯ Operation general manager Bernie O’Leary told that due to its process plant being put on care and maintenance, 17 staff will lose their jobs out of the 44 staff employed in this part of the mine.

‘‘Our Correnso mine will finish very shortly, with the exception of some narrow vein mining,’’ O’Leary said.

‘‘Project Martha does not begin production until next year.

‘‘This means that our Process Plant is being put on care and maintenance until we resume full production.’’

Most staff will work their last day on March 10.

There are around 350 staff and full time contractors working for OceanaGold in the mine, and O’Leary said the company had encouraged staff to apply for a number of internal vacancies.

They are also holding CV writing workshops and liaising with the Ministry of Social Development to explain to staff about Job Seeker entitlements, Working for Families allowances and the Accommodation Supplement.

‘‘As the largest employer in Waihı¯ we are very aware that these job losses will have an effect on staff and their families.

‘‘But we also know that once Project Martha is in production we will have work for at least the next decade, and that we have other projects which we are currently looking at that could see us remain in Waihı¯ for even longer.

‘‘This is an unfortunate situation due to the production gap, but we are doing everything we can to support all of our staff, and we believe that we will get through this and come back even stronger.’’

Hauraki District Mayor Toby Adams said any job loss within the district was ‘‘disheartening’’.

‘‘I really feel for those employees who have lost their jobs, and for their families, and I wish them all the very best in finding future employment opportunities, hopefully within the district.

‘‘I’m also very aware of the potential flow-on effect to other businesses and hope they’re able to weather these changes and find other opportunities to replace those that may have been lost.’’

Adams said Waihı¯ was a very close-knit community and he had no doubt the job losses would be felt widely.

‘‘One of the great things about small towns like Waihı¯ is the way people rally together in adversity’’ , Adams said.