Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

The Buller Mayor says one of the district's biggest employers, Holcim, will close its Westport cement works for three weeks during the Christmas - New Year period due to mounting stocks of cement around the country.

Pat McManus says it's the first time in its 50 years in Buller that the Cape Foulwind plant has shut down.

He says there will be a compulsory three-week holiday for more than 100 employees.

Mr McManus says there are mixed feelings locally about the shutdown.