increase font size
Rangitikei MP Suze Redmayne.
News that Winstone Pulp International is proposing to cease operations at its two New Zealand mills has been labelled as ‘terrible’ for the Rangitīkei, says the region’s MP Suze Redmayne.
Earlier this month, Winstone Pulp International paused work at its two sites, the Tangiwai Sawmill and the Karioi Pulpmill.
Yesterday, employees were told the company proposed to close the sites indefinitely, citing the high cost of wholesale energy prices.
If the proposal were to go ahead, approximately 230 people would be out of work.
Redmayne says the announcement will be “incredibly tough” for the Ruapehu District community.
“As one of our biggest employers, Winstone Pulp’s closure will have a massive impact on our local families and economy,” she says.
She says the potential job losses underline the importance of affordable housing, reliable energy to the New Zealand economy.
“The Government is moving at pace to reverse Labour’s energy policies that have been disastrous for the country and introduce policies that will ensure Kiwi businesses and households have access to affordable and reliable energy,” Redmayne adds.
“In the meantime my heart goes out to all the staff at Winstone Pulp, and indeed the wider community who share the loss of a great local business which has made a significant contribution to our region for decades,” she concludes.
Farm workers living in accommodation provided by their employers are now set to be able to access their KiwiSaver funds to buy their first home thanks to a pending change in the rules governing KiwiSaver.
Federated Farmers is calling on the Government to deliver on its pre-election promise to change the KiwiSaver rules to help young farmers get their foot on the farming ladder.
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) says it welcomes recently announced consultation on Pharmac’s funding of ostradiol patches used by women going through perimenopause and menopause.
New Zealand lingerie brand Rose & Thorne is expanding its virtual bra fitting service in an effort to provide rural women in with better access to specialised advice.
Don't be surprised if there is a bit more spending at the Central Districts Field Days this year.
With the forage maize harvest started in Northland and the Waikato, the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR) is telling growers of later crops, or those further south, to start checking their maize crop maturity about three weeks prior to when they think they will start silage harvesting.
Irrigation NZ is warning that the government's Resource Management Act (RMA) reform risks falling short of its objectives unless water use for food production and water storage infrastructure are clearly recognised in the goals at the top of the new system.
More than five million trays, or 18,000 tonnes, of Zespri’s RubyRed Kiwifruit will soon be available for consumers across 16 markets this season.
The Government has announced its support for 18 community-based initiatives through its Rural Wellbeing Fund.
New data shows that pork remains one of the more affordable meat options for New Zealand households at a time when grocery costs continue to put pressure on budgets.
The South Island Dairy Event's BrightSIDE has named Jessica Kilday as the recipient of the BrightSIDE Scholarship, recognising her commitment to furthering her education and future career in the New Zealand dairy industry.
OPINION: Election years are usually regarded as the silly season, but a mate of the Hound reckons 2026 is shaping…
OPINION: If farmers poured just a few litres of some pollutant into a stream, the Green Party and the wider…
