Defence Minister Wayne Mapp says discussions are underway to see if the jobs of 100 laid-off aircraft engineers can be maintained.
Air New Zealand announced the redundancies at its engineering subsidiary Safe Air in Blenheim after a contract to upgrade RNZAF Hercules aircraft fell through.
Safe Air has been waiting since August 2008 to begin its share of the work, which has been held up because of problems encountered by the lead contractor in the United States.
Mr Mapp told Morning Report that the Government has tried to put extra work into Safe Air.
He said he's also been speaking to the head of the air force to see what additional work could be implemented to maintain the workforce.
