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Kawerau's mayor says if an industrial dispute involving 145 mill workers isn't resolved fast, the town will be absolutely devastated.
The union members have been locked out of the paper mill for three weeks after they rejected a three percent pay rise.
Now their employer, Swedish-owned Essity, is threatening 67 staff with more than $500,000 in damages.
Our reporter Finn Blackwell reports from Kawerau as some desperate workers head to the foodbank.