The plaque below the symbol reads – The Prime Minister, the Rt Hon. N E Kirk, unveiled this symbol of co-operation between New Zealand Steel Limited and the Maori people of Taharoa to mark the official opening of the Taharoa ironsands operation on 24 November 1973.
Taharoa Ironsands is rethinking plans to give eight employees until Boxing Day to move to alternative accommodation in Taharoa village.
Taharoa ironsands
The company issued notices to eight employees who had sole occupancy of multiple bedroom houses within the Tahāroa village on Friday, prompting a post of objection on Ngati Mahuta’s Mahuta Ake Ake Facebook page.
As a consequence, the company told The News it would enter into a 30-day period of consultation.
“Let’s be clear: this is not just about tenancy law,” the Facebook post read. “This is about a corporate culture that treats people as disposable and shows no respect for the whakapapa, community, and whenua that make up Tahaaroa.
“When companies act without compassion, it reflects the values of their leadership. What kind of owner forces whaanau from their homes to serve ‘operational efficiency’?
Company director Brent Coffey said the eight employees, who pay $28 in rent a week, were due to be moved to new accommodation. The company regularly reallocates accommodation for various reasons, he said.
“Ninety-five per cent of staff and contractors are in single quarters – one room per person in shared accommodation.
“The other five per cent have a three- or four-bedroom house all to themselves. It is those staff who are intended to be reallocated to other accommodation so that the extra rooms can be available to staff who otherwise would not have accommodation,” Coffey said.
“Due to some concerns raised following the notices, Taharoa Ironsands Limited has decided to enter into a 30-day period of consultation. This means notices will not apply until the end of that consultation period or may be withdrawn on a case-by-case basis.”
Due to more than 100 new hires over the last 18 months, the company was short of staff accommodation, Coffey said.
“The company has built or added 40 new accommodation rooms and leases additional accommodation outside the area with a daily shuttle service available.”
Iwi spokeswoman Ngahuia Herangi confirmed iwi were to meet yesterday (Wednesday) to discuss the issue.
Waitomo mayor John Robertson said the matter needed to be resolved between the company and its tenants. Waitomo rural member Janette Osborne said she did not have enough information to have a view.
The plaque below the symbol reads – The Prime Minister, the Rt Hon. N E Kirk, unveiled this symbol of co-operation between New Zealand Steel Limited and the Maori people of Taharoa to mark the official opening of the Taharoa ironsands operation on 24 November 1973.
