The Buller District Mayor has written to the Government saying the region is facing a crisis and needs help.
Garry Howard has written to the Ministers of Economic Development, Local Government, Housing and Internal Affairs, asking for their help to avoid what he says could be a period of sustained downturn.
He said the Government could take some immediate steps to create work for people who have lost their jobs in the mining industry.
Mr Howard said allowing a further 500 hectares of Landcorp land to be converted to dairying, and upgrading the region's Housing New Zealand stock could help create work within weeks.