Council of Trade Unions media release - Te Runanga o nga Kaimahi Māori
25 January 2011

Solutions needed for Māori wood processing workers

The Council of Trade Unions Runanga is calling for more help from government for the problems facing the wood processing industry, following recent redundancies in the sector.

“The lack of government interest in supporting a failing economy is gross negligence and is having a devastating effect on regional communities, and particularly on Māori,” said Syd Keepa, CTU Vice President Māori.

“We are seeing hundreds of jobs disappear in wood processing, an industry that needs an economic strategy to ensure it grows rather than shrinks.”

“This government has defended itself against Hone Harawira’s recent claims by saying it has done a lot for Māori. But they haven’t – a flag and the Takutai Moana bill does not put money in workers’ pockets and food on the table.”

“There are plenty of options open to government to help employment in regional New Zealand, and a classic one is housing which would boost demand for New Zealand timber, another is to increase support for research and development so that wood processing options diversify.”

“There is a desperate need for decent housing in areas like the East Coast and up the Far North, where some families are living in houses little better than cow sheds. Increased house building would both help these families, and boost demand for New Zealand timber – it is these sorts of initiatives that a government should be considering in tough times like this.”

As an example the project that Ngati Awa is driving, with support from KiwiBank, to build 40 houses is a good initiative that the Government should investigate and expand, Syd Keepa said.

ENDS

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