October 08, 2015
Mine closure blow to Huntly Maori community
Labour's Maori development spokesperson and Hauraki-Waikato MP Nanaia Mahuta says the closure of the Huntly East Mine puts the pressure on the Government to help the beleagured Waikato township.
Mine owner Solid Energy is selling or closing down assets as it tried to clear a mountain of debt.
Ms Mahuta says closure comes as a significant blow to Huntly where whanau have suffered severe upheaval in the past eight years.
She says the Government has no plan to transition local economies to low carbon alternatives, and restoring the environment damaged by years of mining is a potential employment option for the 65 employees who will be made redundant.
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