The sale of a Winton timber business and sawmill that sadly results in several redundancies, is hard news for the community says Winton Business Association president Daphne Fairbairn.

“Any redundancies are never good news for a town,” she said.

“Hopefully, the industry builds again for the benefit of everyone.”

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The timber business, Craigpine, was sold local buyer Niagara Sawmilling Company, following what was described as tough market conditions in the timber industry.

Craigpine chair Paul Kiesanowski said Niagara have 53 roles they require filling, either at the Winton or Kennington plant.

“Unfortunately, there will be a number of redundancies as Niagara has advised us that it is unable to offer jobs to all existing Craigpine employees,” he said.

He said the last several years have been increasingly difficult for many timber processors. 

“As a result, many companies around the country have consolidated their operations. The competition for log supply has intensified with significant increases in log exports, and world prices for sawn timber impacted by harvesting of windblown and insect damaged trees in the Northern Hemisphere.

“On top of that, the additional disruption caused by Covid-19 has led to the decision by the shareholders to look to sell the business. This is not a decision the owners have taken lightly.” 

Mrs Fairbairn said in terms of re-deploying workers into other fields such as agriculture, it all depended on the skill-level of those being made redundant.

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However, she said with little known so far about the types of job losses, it was too soon to say what this might look like.

The sale to Niagara Sawmilling Company Ltd of the family-owned Winton business will take effect on December 18, 2020. 

This brings to an end 98 years of involvement of the Black family in timber processing in New Zealand. 

Mr K said this closure is a very difficult time and thanked the community for their support over the years on behalf of the owners.