Up to 35 jobs will go in a restructuring of the workforce at Port Otago. Most of the positions affected are frontline stevedoring roles.
The Port of Otago chief executive, Geoff Plunkett, says restructuring is a necessary response to current economic conditions. There's been a fall in ship numbers and container volume at the port, he says, and trade volume is expected to be down by 15% in the coming year.
Mr Plunkett says that because the company is small and has traditionally worked closely with its workforce, it is hugely disappointing to be in this position.
The workforce restructuring is the first at the port since the mid-1990s.
