A resource centre in Wairoa, which Ngati Kahungunu iwi set up to help locked out and striking AFFCO employees, has started winding down its operations.
A 12-week dispute between the company and the Meat Workers Union ended on Wednesday, when they reached an agreement over a collective employment contract.
Therese Turipa who was one of the 110 locked out workers in Wairoa, has been in charge of administration at the centre.
She says the dispute has been hard and challenging, but the centre has provided a lot of positives for meat workers.
Ms Turipa says discussions over lunch between workers from different parts of the AFFCO plant, have given them a much greater understanding about the issues they all face.
She says the centre, which is housed in the Taiwhenua building, has also brought workers closer to Ngati Kahungunu iwi, which has provided tremendous help since early March.
