The marae hosted a mini job fair and whānau fun day to help the last portion of workers to find their feet in the workforce.
Late last year, 607 Smithfield staff were made redundant when Alliance announced plans to close the 139-year-old Smithfield plant.
Alliance cited overcapacity in the industry, declining stock numbers and the meat company’s poor financial performance as reasons for the closure.
Ministry of Social Development regional labour market adviser Emilia St Baker said the job fair was aimed at connecting those affected with everything from job providers to education and mental health support.
Miss St Baker said she did not know how many Smithfield workers were still seeking employment, but she had heard anecdotal reports of approximately 100 people who were not yet back in the workforce.
She said a previous job fair had helped a significant number of the workers to transition to work.
While there were no other job fairs in the works at the moment, she suggested jobseekers dropped in to the marae if they needed help, whether that was searching for jobs on the marae’s jobs board, getting help with writing their CV or getting career advice.
She said most of the job providers at this week’s job fair were located in Timaru, with only two from further afield.
Te Aitarakihi Marae-ā-Iwi general manager Karl Jackson said the job fair was not aimed solely at jobseekers, but at making it a fun day for their whole whānau, too.
"We have an ethos of family being together," Mr Jackson said.
The marae had face painting, a sausage sizzle and a bouncy castle as some of the entertainment on offer.
He said they had industry leaders at the fair, "with jobs in hand ready to go".
He wanted job seekers to know "we are always here for support".
After the bouncy castle was deflated and all of the marquees put away, there would be no time for the team at Te Aitarakihi to put their feet up, as they would be organising their next event, to be held on Waitangi Day.
The Waitangi Whānau Games would see the Te Aitarakihi Waitangi champions crowned.
The games would be held on February 6 from 10am to 1pm at the marae in Bridge Rd.
Everyone is welcome.
For more information email kiaora@teaitarakihi.co.nz
