Production at the Juken mill at Matawhero stopped yesterday.
“Today is a sad day for Juken, as our Gisborne manufacturing operations cease after almost three decades,” Juken NZ Ltd managing director Hiroyuki Kawado said in a statement.
“I want to acknowledge the hard work of those who have worked at the Gisborne mill since it was established in 1994, and to thank our most recent employees for their loyalty and understanding.
“A transition crew of 18 will now manage the site until March 31, 2024, at the latest, while we continue to seek a buyer for the site, ideally as a going concern.
“Of those who are not in the transition crew, I’m pleased to report that 18 have already secured new employment, and 30 are awaiting the outcome of interviews organised by our HR team.
“Another 14 team members have chosen to retire as they are aged 65-plus, or not to seek employment due to family commitments.
“Our comprehensive employee support programme has included jobseeker workshops run by local company, Eastland Careers, and interviews with potential employers arranged with the help of the Ministry of Social Development and Trust Tairāwhiti, which employees have been able to attend during their shifts.
“Our team’s personal wellbeing has been a priority, and we’ve provided access to on-site counselling in addition to the employee assistance programme that’s offered to all Juken employees.
“We greatly appreciate the support offered by the wider community throughout this process, including local leaders, unions, mana whenua, government agencies and the wider Tairāwhiti community.”
■ Juken NZ Ltd owns 30,000 hectares of sustainably managed and certified plantation forests, providing employment to over 270 forestry workers in Tairāwhiti and 150 in Wairarapa. The company has three working mills in Kaitaia and Wairarapa making wood products for local and export markets, with over 400 manufacturing employees combined. It is owned by WoodOne Ltd, which established Juken New Zealand Ltd in 1990 and has since invested more than $NZ700 million into its forest and processing operations in New Zealand.