Clare Curran
Dunedin South MP

28 November 2012

Call for Dunedin business to support Hillside Xmas hamper appeal

Dunedin South Labour MP Clare Curran has today launched an appeal for Dunedin businesses to donate Christmas hamper items for the Hillside workers who are about to lose their jobs.

“The Hillside workforce has received a Christmas hamper as a good will gesture ever year – until now.

This year none of the workers - most of whom will be leaving Hillside before December 25 - will be receiving a hamper, with local KiwiRail management deciding to do away with the tradition to save money.

“Not only is this very scrooge-like behaviour from KiwiRail, it couldn’t come at a worse time for those demoralised workers and their families. It’s a hugely stressful time for all of them.

“Even those who are keeping their jobs have been affected by the uncertainty over the last six months as they waited to hear whether Hillside would be sold or shut down.

“So, after discussion with some of the workers I have agreed to launch an appeal and I’m now asking city businesses and organisations to get behind it.

“No-one in Dunedin wants Hillside to close. This is one thing we can do to show our support for this once strong and proud manufacturing rail workshop.

“The first redundancies are understood to be happening on Friday 7 December, with most of the 90 workers losing their jobs expected to be made redundant before Christmas.

“Those businesses wishing to provide Christmas hamper items can contact my office on Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.

“I am sure our community spirit will come to the fore.”

ENDS

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Arguably Reassuring: Inspector-General Finds GCSB "Arguably" Legal

Of the 88 individuals:

• 15 cases involving 22 individuals did not have any information intercepted by GCSB.

• another four cases involving five individuals were the subjects of a New Zealand Security Intelligence Service warrant and the GCSB assisted in the execution of the warrants. The Inspector-General is of the view that there were arguably no breaches and the law is unclear.

• the Bureau only provided technical assistance which did not involve interception of communications, involving three of the individuals, so no breach occurred.

• the remaining cases involved the collection of metadata, and the Inspector-General formed the view that there had arguably been no breach, noting once again that the law is unclear.
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