Whakatane Mill closure: MP calls on region to support affected workers 16 Mar, 2021 08:11 PM 3 minutes to read Rotorua Daily Post Waiariki MP Rawiri Waititi has adopted a "Whānau Ora approach" to addressing the Whakatāne Mill closure. Yesterday management at Whakatāne Mill Limited (WML) broke the news that just over 210 staff would be made redundant, most by the end of June. Waititi this morning said he has called on key stakeholders in Whakatāne to attend a hui to "understand how the different pieces of the puzzle are working and how we can all work together within our respective workstreams to ensure our whānau have all the support available to them".