Mamaku sawmill closes down (+video)

Workers with the last log to go through the mill. Photo / Stephen Parker

The Mamaku Sawmilling Co ceases operations today, after the last log made its way through the mill yesterday, watched by current and former workers.

The closure was announced last week, with 25 workers losing their jobs.

Company director Bill Taylor said the mill had been losing money since 2012 and the losses were no longer sustainable.

It had struggled to combat difficult trading conditions and reinvestment in the ageing plant was not considered viable, he said.

Three generations of the Kiore family worked at the mill, and all were sad to see it close.

Jason Kiore, 40, worked alongside his father John Kiore, 66, who had been there 40 years.

Son Frazer Kiore, 17, also worked at the mill.

"It is a sad day, but it is the start of the beginning," Jason said.

A few of the workers had already found jobs, but many were sad to leave, he said.

"It's hitting home, I think a lot of the guys that have worked here for many years, I think it's started to hit them."

John said he was positive about the future.

"Now I can retire, just relax. I'm going to do a bit more fishing, we've been expecting it, actually."

He said the mill had undergone a lot of changes over the 40 years he worked there.

"It will be quite sad not hearing the mill going any more. I started out as a slabber, now I am an edger operator.

"There's been a lot of changes here, a lot of changes with technology."

Frazer said it had been a good experience to work alongside his father and grandfather.

"It has been pretty good. When I first started working here I thought it would be good because it runs in the family.

"I wanted to work with wood as well. I am going to go back and finish my last year of school and see how that goes."

Jason, who had worked at the mill since he was 17, said he had a few prospects and was making his mind up about where to go next. "I want to stay local."

Mamaku farmer Jack Butterworth, involved with the sawmill as an adviser, said: "I know the owners. It is sad, it's sad for everyone.

"It's not going to have much of an effect on the town, despite the hoo-ha. It's a close-knit little community."

The firm's processing site in Ngongotaha, with 20 employees, will continue to operate.