Social networks Twitter and Facebook could play a part in pushing the case for the Hillside Engineering Group Dunedin workshops to build flat-deck wagons for its owner KiwiRail.
The Otago Daily Times through this writer's @mackersline Twitter account, and Craigs Investment Partners brokers Chris Timms @ChrisTimmsNZL and Peter McIntyre @macthebroker yesterday tweeted their support for the workshops.
Otago Chamber of Commerce chief executive John Christie (@OtagoChamber) said "count me in" when contacted about the campaign.
Mr Timms wrote: "KiwiRail-owned Hillside Workshops misses out on a $29m contract when KiwiRail awards it to a Chinese company. What's all that about John!"
Twitter users are being asked to send a message to Prime Minister John Key @johnkeypm to support Hillside building the wagons in Dunedin.
It is likely a Facebook page will be launched this week in support of the workshops.
Hillside workers were told on Tuesday that China CNR Corporation would build the first 300 of 3000 flat-deck wagons KiwiRail wanted to replace its ageing fleet.
Hillside's was the third-best of nine tenders but was still 25% more expensive than the tender prepared by CNR, the company contracted to build KiwiRail's new fleet of DL Locomotives.
