MAYORAL MEDIA RELEASE

14 February 2013

Closure of Datamail plant in Petone a “significant loss”

Lower Hutt Mayor Ray Wallace says the decision by NZ Post to close its Datamail printing plant in Petone putting 100 staff out of work is a significant loss.

“This is a major blow to the Petone community and to our city.

“We have worked hard to encourage business development within Lower Hutt.

“It was disappointing that NZ Post did not discuss their review of operations with us prior to finalising locations in Christchurch and Auckland for their revamped printing plants.

“We understand the impact of technology with automated colour machines that are less labour intensive to operate, but it would have seemed sensible to retain the Petone plant, at least in part, to service the government sector clients which make up a big part of their business.

“NZ Post says there are 30 new jobs being created in Christchurch and they would be open to staff at the Petone plant.

“The loss of jobs and the potential departure of whole families because of one decision is hard to take.

“Our thoughts are with the families affected by this decision,” says Mayor Ray Wallace.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On Failures Of Care For Those With Mental Disabilities

Hard to imagine a more disturbing insight into the treatment of the vulnerable than the Health Ministry report on Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau. The Ministry has found that the country’s only kaupapa Maori intellectual disability residential care provider has been “seriously dysfunctional.”

The ministry says the business has failed to recruit and retain quality staff – and says the kaimahi (caregivers) that have been employed are seriously unsuitable for the job, lacking basic knowledge. But Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau doesn’t get all the blame. The report says there’s a significant gap under disability laws to ensure there’s oversight by qualified clinical professionals. More>>