Axed worker fears for kids

OUT OF WORK: Brian Pohatu and his partner, Ashley Mosen, will struggle to make ends meet after he lost his job at Tachikawa yesterday. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER 251013SP3

Young family face bleak future after lay-offs

With Christmas coming and two children under 3 to clothe and feed, Brian Pohatu and his partner, Ashley Mosen, have no idea what the future holds.

The family have had to put their lives on hold after Mr Pohatu lost his job of five years at Tachikawa Forest Products yesterday.

Mr Pohatu is the sole bread-winner of the household - he and Ms Mosen have two children, Kalicia, 2, and Ozyris, 10 months, and are already struggling to make ends meet.

"I was really upset but, at the end of the day, it's the kids we are worrying about," Ms Mosen said.

"The weekly bills have all been paid but we are already wondering what we are going to do next week. We've got nothing left."

Mr Pohatu said he felt bad he could not support his family and did not want to rely on Work and Income to pay his debts.

"It's going to be hard to find another job. They make out it's going to be easy but no one in Rotorua is hiring.

"They tell us we will have to wait for our redundancy as well, but how long is that going to take? Some of the guys have been there for a lot longer than me and are probably owed about $40,000.

"A lot of families are going to struggle hard out."

Mr Pohatu said he enjoyed his job and would miss his workmates but was disappointed owner Koji Tachikawa could not front up to his staff.

"It would have been good for him to come down here and apologise. We haven't heard a word from him.

"He should have come down himself and told us the bad news, instead of sending his minions."