Job losses on the cards at Broadspectrum

A company contracted to install fibre broadband infrastructure in the region is planning on cutting jobs. Photo/File

Chorus infrastructure contractor Broadspectrum is planning to cut up to five jobs in the region.

The proposed redundancies affect four of Broadspectrum's staff in Rotorua and one in Whakatane.

Broadspectrum, formerly known as Transfield Services has announced a proposal to cut 20 jobs in Rotorua, Whakatane, Blenheim and Nelson.

E tu Union industry co-ordinator Joe Gallagher said it was another blow to New Zealand's regional economies.

"The result is technical staff are losing their jobs and the work will probably be picked up instead by dependent contractors working with unpredictable work volumes," he said.

Broadspectrum contract manager Ian Webb, who is based in Christchurch, confirmed a redundancy proposal was on the table but referred any further questions to his head office in Australia.

Attempts to contact Broadspectrum in Australia were unsuccessful.