Far North Juken mills sale uncertainty spurs Kaitāia community meeting
The mills employ more than 200 people, making them key to Kaitāia's economy.
The future of hundreds of Far North jobs will be the focus of a public community meeting in Kaitāia this weekend as uncertainty continues over whether a buyer can be found for the region’s Juken New Zealand mills.
As efforts continue to find a new buyer for the mills, Worker’s First Unions is hosting the meeting at Te Ahu Hall on Saturday from 4.30pm, and hopes to bring together workers, politicians, iwi, industry representatives and members of the public to discuss the future of the mills and their importance to the wider Far North.
The meeting comes as the deadline for potential buyers to express interest in the mills approaches.
Workers First organiser Marcus Coverdale said the community needed to come together to discuss the possible consequences if the mills were unable to secure a buyer.
“Already Aotearoa has lost six major wood processing sites in the last two years, and we can’t afford to lose two more.
“If the mills don’t find a buyer and Juken decides to close them instead, it would have a devastating impact on local industries and the wider Northland community, as well as the wood sector in New Zealand.
“We are inviting locals, politicians, iwi and industry to come together to discuss the future, make plans and hear from those involved.”
Japanese-owned Juken New Zealand announced in March it had begun a formal consultation process regarding the future of its Northland mill and triboard mill in Kaitāia.
In a statement at the time, managing director Hisayuki Tsuboi said that ongoing structural and market pressures, including declining demand in key export markets and rising operating costs, had affected operations.
The company said it was exploring whether the mills could continue operating under a different structure, including through a potential sale or joint venture.
The mills employ more than 200 people, making Juken one of Kaitāia’s largest employers.
Northland MP Grant McCallum previously revealed an investment group was in discussions with Juken about purchasing the mills.
He said there was no update to share at this stage but indicated he would be attending the meeting on the weekend.
“My plan is to attend the meeting on Saturday afternoon ... I’ll just finalise the details. I’m hoping to get up there.
“I am keen to get a sense of how people are feeling as we work through the process.”
Saturday’s meeting will be held at Te Ahu Hall, on the corner of State Highway 1 and Matthews Ave, from 4.30pm to 6.30pm.