Carter Holt Harvey says it has begun consulting staff at its Whangarei sawmill about the potential closure of that site. It is understood the sawmill employs about 111 staff. Source: Timberbiz
“Following a major upgrade to increase productivity at our Kawerau sawmill, our Kawerau and Nelson sawmills now have sufficient capacity to service our domestic customers,” chief executive Clayton Harris said.
“These sawmills are also better located in terms of access to logs and proximity to customers.”
Continuing log shortages in Northland contributed to the company’s “in-principle decision” to close the Whangarei sawmill, he said.
“The decision has been made reluctantly but the sawmill had been facing log shortages for some time and our analysis was that it’s only going to get worse.”
Carter Holt Harvey would be working closely with the union and affected staff to ensure that staff had the support they need, he said.
Staff would be consulted, and the company would then consider feedback before making a final decision.
It follows the announcement just two weeks ago of the closure of Pacific Pine Industries Ltd, a timber processing and sawmill in Putaruru, New Zealand, which its 60-plus out of a job.
“This is becoming a pattern,” said Robert Reid, FIRST Union President. “It was just November last year that Claymark went into receivership. It highly counterintuitive that, at a time where we have lots of wood and the need for an unprecedented number of homes, our sawmills are closing down.”
