Few laid-off staff find work

Tachikawa Mill closure has led to a lot of job losses.

About a dozen of the Tachikawa Forest Product workers have been able to find work but a job before Christmas will be as rare as "hens' teeth", a union representative said.

First Union wood secretary Rawiri Daniels said those from Tachikawa's mill who had found work had been able to secure only temporary, casual or seasonal work.

"There are a lot of people looking for work already, these men are definitely keen and motivated," Mr Daniels said.

"We understand about a dozen have got different forms of work. To get permanent work by Christmas is almost like hens' teeth. It's a very difficult, tight market."

He said First Union handed out food vouchers to its members yesterday. The workers have also been advised of what they can expect as a redundancy payout but Mr Daniels said that would be confirmed in a couple of weeks by the receivers, KordaMentha.

He said Work and Income (Winz) had been "very proactive" by setting up an office at Hurunga Te Rangi Marae in Ngapuna.

"We've had a high success rate with Winz, they've been proactive and been at the marae working alongside us and our members."

Independent MP Brendan Horan said there had been confusion over the stand-down period and up to 60 Tachikawa workers were yet to make contact with Work and Income.

"I have received an assurance from the Minister that confusion over stand-down periods has been resolved and workers are now receiving real help from Winz," he said.

"Today it is important that every person who worked at the sawmill makes contact with Winz [and] gets registered. I understand from sources that there may be as many as 60 former employees and contractors who are still to make contact. These are people who have suffered traumatic stress over the last three weeks."

Mr Daniels said it was true some people had yet to make contact with Work and Income but they were being encouraged to get forms filled in.

News that Tachikawa Forest Products was in financial trouble broke on October 18 and a week later it was confirmed staff had lost their jobs.

The receivers plan to sell the business and are considering whether it is viable to continue operating while it's for sale.

First Union represents about 90 of the mill's 130 workers.

Mr Daniels said the majority of the workers were experiencing "stressful" times. But, he said, any considering moving to Australia should reconsider.

"Australia is no golden bullet. At this stage the work over there is compressing as well. It's not what it's made out to be."